KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is currently studying the need to introduce period leave for women.
Its deputy minister Datuk Siti Zailah Yusoff told the Dewan Rakyat today that the government was compiling feedback from over 57,000 women nationwide, to complete by October this year.
Read more: Menstrual leave for women workforce in Malaysia: A boon or bane?
"As a woman, I really understand this issue, but we must first make the necessary evaluation.
"This issue is under the purview of the Public Service Department, Human Resources Ministry, Finance Ministry, workers' unions and employers' organisations.
"While introducing period leave involve the wellbeing of female workers, it will also affect productivity and the country's economy.
"At the moment, there are sick leave and rest leave, which employers allocate to their workers, both in the public and private sectors," she said.
Read more: HR Ministry encourages GLCs, private firms to introduce menstrual leave policy
Siti Zailah was responding to a question by Charles Santiago (Pakatan Harapan-Klang) who asked the ministry to state if it had plans to introduce period leave and subsidised menstrual pads for women in the bottom 40 (B40) category.
On the period pads, Siti Zailah said further research should be carried out on the need to provide subsidies for sanitary pads.
"This will enable the government to get a true picture of the issue of menstrual poverty especially among B40 households in Malaysia."
Read more on menstrual leave and menstrual disorders:
'Menstrual leave, not an admission of weakness'
NST poll: Instagrammers vote 'Yes' for national menstrual leave policy