Summary
A new Manitoba workplace rule takes effect on September 1, 2026. Most provincially regulated employers will need to provide free menstrual products, including tampons and pads, in workplace washrooms.
Manitoba employers have a new workplace requirement coming this fall
Starting September 1, 2026, Manitoba employers covered by provincial workplace safety and health rules must provide menstrual products at no cost in workplace toilet facilities. The change comes through Manitoba Regulation 19/2026, which amends the Workplace Safety and Health Regulation under The Workplace Safety and Health Act.
The regulation specifically requires employers to supply clean and hygienic tampons and menstrual pads. It also requires a covered disposal container near each toilet, and the same amendment updates washroom signage wording from “sex” to “gender.”
There is some flexibility built into the rule. If it is not reasonably practicable to stock menstrual products in every toilet facility, employers can provide them in another workplace location instead, as long as it is accessible at all times and offers a reasonable amount of privacy.
In practical terms, this will apply to most provincially regulated Manitoba workplaces covered by Manitoba’s workplace safety and health legislation.
Employers do not need one specific dispenser type
Manitoba’s regulation says what must be provided, but it does not require one exact dispenser model or setup. Federal guidance on a similar workplace requirement says employers can use practical options such as a wall-mounted container, a countertop basket or bin, a small cabinet or drawer, or a mechanical dispenser, depending on the washroom layout and the employer’s needs.
Where Manitoba employers can get dispensers and supplies
For a local Winnipeg service option, Orkin Canada lists Winnipeg Menstrual Hygiene Dispenser Service and Winnipeg Feminine Hygiene Bin Service, and its service materials say it offers dispensers, installation, and servicing.
Another Manitoba option is Winnipeg Mat Service / ECOSAN Hygiene, which says it serves Winnipeg, Manitoba and surrounding areas and offers dispensers, refill liners, period products, and a full-service maintenance package.
For employers that want a supplier that can ship into Manitoba, joni says it offers commercial period care solutions in Canada, including dispensers and bulk products for workplaces and other organizations.
For a straightforward buy-it-yourself option, Uline Canada lists free-vend dispensers, tampon refills, pad refills, and related washroom products on its Canadian site.
A larger national option is Citron Hygiene, which says it is the exclusive Canadian distributor for Aunt Flow and offers dispenser supply and servicing in Canada.
What employers should do now
The smartest next step is to review your washroom setup now, decide where products will be placed, choose whether you want a simple self-stocked system or a managed dispenser service, and make sure your workplace is ready before September 1, 2026.
References
Manitoba Government. Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, M.R. 217/2006. Includes notice that M.R. 19/2026 is not yet in force and takes effect on September 1, 2026.
Manitoba Government. The Workplace Safety and Health Act, C.C.S.M. c. W210. Source for the governing Act and general employer duties.
Government of Canada. Requirements for employers to provide menstrual products in federally regulated workplaces. Useful for practical setup examples such as wall-mounted containers, baskets, bins, cabinets, and dispensers.
Orkin Canada. Winnipeg location page. Confirms Winnipeg menstrual hygiene dispenser service and feminine hygiene bin service are offered locally.
Orkin Canada. Menstrual Hygiene Dispenser Service. Source for dispenser servicing and product support details.
Winnipeg Mat Service / ECOSAN Hygiene. Menstrual Products & Disposal. Source for Manitoba-area dispenser, refill, period product, and maintenance service information.
joni. Commercial Period Care Solutions. Source for Canadian commercial ordering of dispensers and workplace menstrual products that can be shipped to Manitoba employers.
Uline Canada. Feminine Hygiene Products and Dispensers in Stock. Source for direct-purchase dispensers, refills, and receptacles available in Canada.
Citron Hygiene. Aunt Flow Pad and Tampon Dispenser. Source for Canadian distributor information and dispenser servicing options.
