"Menstrual leave? It actually hurts women"...The country that rejected a petition to introduce it

[Financial News] The Supreme Court of India has rejected a petition calling for menstrual leave for women to be made mandatory by law.
According to reports on the 16th (local time) by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and others, the Supreme Court of India recently dismissed a petition seeking the nationwide introduction of menstrual leave for women. The court expressed concern that mandatory menstrual leave could prompt companies to avoid hiring women.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated, "If menstrual leave is made compulsory by law, private-sector employers are highly likely to hesitate to hire women," adding, "In the end, no one will want to employ women."
He went on to say, "If such leave is mandated, it could reinforce a negative perception that young women are not equal to their male colleagues, and this would harm women's long-term career growth."
Earlier, lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi had filed a petition arguing that the Government of India should adopt a policy granting two to three days of menstrual leave per month so that working women across the country can better cope with the difficulties of menstruation.
The Supreme Court of India responded that this was not an issue for the judiciary to impose. However, it also noted that "the government can still consult with stakeholders and establish a separate policy direction," leaving the door open to a possible system in the future.

India is not known to have any law that mandates menstrual leave nationwide. Even so, there are legal principles that can be cited as grounds for introducing menstrual leave, such as the requirement to provide safe working conditions for women.
Some state governments and large corporations in India are gradually introducing menstrual leave.
Currently, Bihar state in the northeast and Odisha in the east grant two days of menstrual leave per month only to state government employees, while Kerala state in southern India allows menstrual leave only for staff at universities and industrial research institutes.
Some major companies have also decided to introduce menstrual leave starting this year. RPG Group announced that its affiliate, the tire manufacturer CEAT, has adopted a policy granting two days of menstrual leave per month.
Meanwhile, public health expert and lawyer Sukriti Chauhan said the Supreme Court of India's latest decision once again reflects the social taboo surrounding menstruation in India.
Chauhan told BBC, "Providing menstrual leave would not only improve women's health and well-being, but also help boost productivity and efficiency in the workplace."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter