Credit: DH file photo
Bengaluru: Women working in garment factories, pourakarmikas, and ASHA workers may not benefit from the one-day menstrual leave announced for women in private and government sectors.
Garment workers’ unions say women in the sector are already deprived of adequate leave. About 85 per cent of the workforce in the industry are women.
Pratibha R, president of the Garment and Textile Workers’ Union (GTWU), said employees must complete a year of service before becoming eligible for 14 days of paid leave.
“The menstrual leave is a far-fetched dream for them,” she said. "There are no sick leaves. If employees are not able to work, they lose pay."
Wage loss aside, workers face humiliation for taking time off.
Rathnamma, a garment worker, said, “Our sick leave gets cancelled many times. They call us back and order us to take leave another day.”
Susheelamma, another worker, pointed out that if a woman takes leave on different dates each month, managers may think she is misusing the rule.
Some private firms already provide menstrual leave, while others allow women to use sick leave for it.
Pourakarmikas
The plight of pourakarmikas is similar. Though the state has regularised thousands of them, they still do not get a weekly day off and are allowed only two half-days a month.
“Most pourakarmikas are women. When we ask for menstrual leave, authorities say ‘we are paying you Rs 41,000 and giving two half-days’,” said Nirmala, a civic worker. “These women work on the roads without facilities to change sanitary napkins or rest. This is nothing but exploitation.”
Anganwadi, ASHA workers
Varalakshmi, president of the Karnataka State Anganwadi Workers’ Union, said each anganwadi has two workers, so one can take leave while the other works.
However, for ASHA workers, this may not be possible. “There is only one ASHA worker for every 1,000 people. Accommodating menstrual leave might be difficult,” she said.
Govt response
Dr HN Gopalakrishna, Labour Commissioner, said a meeting with stakeholders will be held once the government order on menstrual leave is issued.