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Many Manitoba employers will soon be required to provide their workers with free menstrual products.
The provincial government, in a news release on Monday, said that starting in early August provincially regulated workplaces must provide the products, such as pads and tampons, in washrooms or another accessible location.
The NDP government says Manitoba is the first province to make the move, and that it will make for healthier and more inclusive workplaces.
The Manitoba Federation of Labour says the change will help make life more affordable for people struggling to pay their bills.
The new requirement will cost employers $10-$25 per worker, the news release states.
There are also one-time costs for setting up dispensers and other equipment, estimated at up to $300.
The changes are a response to recommendations from the five-year review of the Workplace Safety and Health Act, completed by the Workplace Safety and Health Review Committee in January 2025, according to the release.
The Workplace Safety and Health Branch will enforce compliance through existing workplace inspections.