CEAT Limited Expands Workplace Policies to Advance Women's Participation and Inclusion

CEAT Limited, one of India's leading tyre manufacturers, has announced a suite of updated workplace policies designed to support women employees across various stages of their careers and personal lives. The company stated that its approach is grounded in a belief that work-life balance contributes directly to both employee well-being and organizational productivity.

Among the notable provisions, CEAT's Wellness Leave policy entitles women employees to two days of work-from-home or paid leave per month during menstruation, without requiring any justification. Employees on the shopfloor are also permitted to change shifts or use on-site Occupational Health Centres as needed. The company additionally offers options for remote or hybrid work arrangements, subject to managerial alignment.

On the caregiving front, CEAT provides 26 weeks of paid maternity leave along with hospitalisation coverage, crèche facilities, and lactation rooms across offices and manufacturing plants. Returning mothers are offered flexible working hours and the option of a four-hour workday until their child turns one year old. A gender-neutral Child Caregiver Travel and Stay Policy has also been introduced to accommodate employees who travel for work.

The company has also invested in infrastructure changes at its manufacturing facilities to make shopfloor roles more accessible to women. The introduction of automated tyre-building machines, ergonomic fixtures, lift-assist devices, and conveyor-based tyre movement has reduced the physical demands of several production roles. These modifications have contributed to a 20 percent women workforce participation rate at CEAT's Chennai plant. The Nagpur facility has reported 28 percent women representation on the shopfloor and is noted as the first factory in Maharashtra to introduce night shifts for women.

To support professional development, CEAT runs several programs including Womentoring, the Women Accelerator Program, and STARS, which focus on leadership, digital skills, and functional capability building. The company's Employee Resource Group, EmpowHer, provides a platform for dialogue on inclusion-related topics within the organization.

CEAT is part of the RPG Group, a US$5.2 billion diversified conglomerate with operations in over 135 countries. The company exports tyres to more than 110 countries and serves both domestic and international original equipment manufacturers.