ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment has imposed a total fine of Rs2.7 million on five officials of a private company after finding them guilty of workplace harassment and retaliatory conduct against a female employee.

In a detailed ruling, the Ombudsperson declared that harassment and retaliation in the workplace are unacceptable and warned that such misconduct would result in serious legal consequences.

According to the complainant, several company officials engaged in inappropriate behavior during her employment. 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 a product sample.

The woman further stated that another official took photographs of her private messages and made insulting remarks about her in front of other team members.

She also alleged that a third official failed to pursue her complaint and neglected to preserve CCTV footage that he had personally reviewed. A fourth official was accused of ordering retaliatory action against her and failing to establish an anti-harassment committee in accordance with legal requirements. The fifth official allegedly made threatening phone calls to the complainant after she served a legal notice.

The complainant told the Ombudsperson that the continued hostility, pressure, and retaliatory actions forced her to resign from her job. She further claimed that the company later withheld her employment documents and outstanding dues.

During the proceedings, the accused denied all allegations and attempted to challenge the complainant’s credibility by referring to her personality, clothing, and private life.

Rejecting these arguments, the Federal Ombudsperson ruled that a complainant’s personality, dress, or social conduct has no relevance in determining whether workplace harassment occurred. The decision stated that the evidence presented, witness testimonies, and contradictions in the statements of the accused established that harassment and retaliatory conduct had taken place.

The ruling further emphasized that politeness or friendliness should never be interpreted as consent, and that a delay in filing a complaint does not weaken a harassment case. It reaffirmed that employers have a legal responsibility to provide women with a safe, respectful, and harassment-free working environment.

The Ombudsperson concluded that workplace harassment and retaliation are punishable offenses under the law and imposed a combined fine of Rs2.7 million on the five company officials.

In addition to the financial penalty, the company was directed to reconstitute its anti-harassment committee within 30 days in compliance with the relevant legal framework, ensuring proper mechanisms are in place to address future complaints and protect employees from workplace misconduct.