"Today we are taking another step toward advancing menstrual equity and gender equality in Canada. Access to menstrual products is a basic necessity and a key part of promoting Canadians' sexual and reproductive health and rights. Making sure that workers have free menstrual products in federally regulated workplaces is just one of many ways we can support women, girls, trans and non-binary people who menstruate." - Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien
As of December 15th, 2023, free menstrual products, such as pads and tampons, must be provided to staff at federally regulated workplaces. There are approximately 470,000 menstruating employees, out of the 1.3 million total employees in the federal jurisdiction in industries such as banking, telecommunications, and transportation.
On May 10th, 2023, the Canadian Federal Government announced that they would be making changes to the Canada Labour Code (CLC), which regulates federal labour laws, and the rights and responsibilities of employees and employers in federally regulated workplaces. These changes will make it mandatory for federally regulated employers to provide access to menstrual products to its employees in their workplace, free of charge.
What Does This Mean?
Federally regulated employers will be required to provide menstrual products, including clean and hygienic tampons and menstrual pads, in each toilet room. However, if it is not feasible to provide menstrual products in a toilet room, the employer shall provide them in another location in the same workplace that is controlled by the employer, accessible by employees at all times, and offers a reasonable amount of privacy, and also ensure that covered containers for the disposal of menstrual products are provided in each toilet compartment.
Long Time Coming
These changes to the CLC, have been in the works since 2019. The main objective of these changes is to provide unrestricted access to menstrual products as it will better protect the physical and psychological health and safety risks for menstruating employees. By ensuring employees' access to menstrual products in the workplace at all times, the Canadian government is making steps towards building a more inclusive country, and addressing the systemic inequities, such as gender-based discrimination, discrimination against 2SLGBTQI+ communities and inequities faced by all vulnerable populations and continuing to stand up for fairness and equality.
This federal change is hopefully a step in the right direction towards menstrual health and safety accessibility for all, not only federal employees. There are many initiatives around Canada and the World regarding free access to menstrual products in schools, however, Scotland is the only country to provide free and universal access to menstrual products.
Connect With Suzanne Desrosiers Professional Corporation
If you have any questions regarding the upcoming changes to the CLC, and how they may affect your workplace, please feel free to reach out to Suzanne Desrosiers Professional Corporation by calling us at (705) 268-6492 or emailing us at info@sdlawtimmins.com and we would be more than happy to help!