Move provides nearly half a million working Canadians access to products
The Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Labour, has announced that federally regulated employers must now provide free access to pads and tampons for their employees. The directive aims to ensure that nearly half a million workers across Canada have essential menstrual products available while on the job.
The announcement was made at Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto, with the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Member of Parliament for Toronto-St. Paul's, in attendance. The new policy mandates employers to supply these products in a readily accessible and private workplace location, such as washrooms or office supply cabinets.
“At a time when Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, buying pads, tampons and other menstrual products shouldn't be an additional source of financial strain. By making these products free and accessible in federally regulated workspaces, we are taking another step forward to end period poverty and advance menstrual equity. This is about putting money back in the pockets of people in need and building a more equitable country,” says the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth.
The initiative, applicable to all menstruating individuals, including cisgender women, non-binary individuals, transgender men, and intersex individuals, is part of broader efforts by the government to break down barriers and set an example for more equitable workplaces.
“We don't expect you to bring your own toilet paper to work, so why should we expect you to bring pads and tampons? We're providing menstrual products to employees in federally regulated workplaces because periods are a fact of life and there should be no stigma,” O'Regan says.
“This is about basic health and hygiene. Every workplace should be providing free menstrual products,” Bennett adds.
In addition to the menstrual product policy, federally regulated workplaces also benefit from measures such as providing 10 days of paid sick leave.
