Islamabad:Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) Fauzia Viqar has imposed fines totalling Rs2.7 million on five officials of a private company after finding them guilty of workplace harassment and retaliatory conduct against a female employee, who ultimately resigned due to sustained pressure.
In its ruling, the ombudsperson declared that harassment and victimisation at the workplace were unacceptable and would invite strict legal consequences. According to the complaint, the woman was subjected to inappropriate conduct by several company officials holding different positions.
She alleged that one official made personal and unprofessional remarks during a meeting, invited her to meet outside the office and held her hand while showing product samples. Another official was accused of taking screenshots of her private messages and making a humiliating remark about her in front of colleagues.
The complainant further alleged that a third official discouraged her from pursuing the complaint and failed to preserve CCTV footage that he had viewed, while a fourth official ordered retaliatory action against her and failed to establish a legally required anti-harassment inquiry committee within the organisation.
Moreover, another official was found to have made a threatening phone call to the complainant after she served a legal notice. The woman told the Ombudsperson that the hostile work environment and continued pressure forced her to resign. She added that after leaving the company, her experience certificate, clearance documents, salary and other dues were withheld.
The respondents denied all allegations and instead focused their defence on questioning the complainant's personality, clothing and private life. However, after examining documentary evidence, witness testimonies and inconsistencies in the respondents' statements, the ombudsperson concluded that both harassment and retaliatory conduct had been established.
Under the order, fines amounting to Rs2.7 million were imposed. Of the total amount, Rs540,000 will be deposited into the exchequer while Rs2.16 million will be paid to the complainant as compensation.
The company has also been directed to provide the complainant with her experience certificate, clearance documents, salary and all outstanding dues within 15 days. The ombudsperson also ordered it to reconstitute its anti-harassment committee within 30 days in accordance with legal requirements.
She made several important observations in the judgement, stating that a complainant's personality, attire or social behaviour were irrelevant to determining harassment. She emphasised that courtesy should never be interpreted as consent and that a victim's decision to continue working or delay filing a complaint did not weaken the credibility of her case.
