Free Sanitary Napkins For The Factory Workers In Meghalaya

SHILLONG: Free sanitary napkins will be provided to women factory workers in Meghalaya. The news came after state cabinet approved an amendment to the 40-years-old Factories Rules.

The amendment now makes it mandatory for factories to provide personal protective equipment (PPEs) to all workers, said a government spokesperson on Tuesday.

“After discussion, the proposal to amend rules 25 and 78 (C) of the Meghalaya Factories Rules, 1980 was approved at the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday,” James PK Sangma told PTI.

The amendment was made after the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment had written to the state government to incorporate the Model Factories Rules regarding the provisions of sanitary napkins for the women workers under the Factories Act, 1948 and also to incorporate rules regarding the PPEs for all workers, he said.

According to the government spokesperson, the proposed amendment also incorporated clauses to ensure that the sanitary napkins of adequate quantity and conforming to Indian standards shall be provided and maintained in the women’s toilets for their use and the same be replenished on a daily basis.

He said disposal bins with lit shall also be provided within the womens toilets for the collection of the used napkins and they shall be disposed of as per procedures approved by the inspector.

The same clauses are also applicable to the PPEs provided in terms of quality and disposal, he said.

^{Feature image credit: Ken Research}

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