The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH) has ruled that terminating a woman’s employment during maternity leave amounts to gender discrimination, in a landmark decision reinforcing workplace protections for women.
Announcing the verdict on a complaint filed by the affected employee, Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Viqar imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the private company responsible for the dismissal. Of this amount, Rs800,000 will be paid to the complainant as compensation, while Rs200,000 must be deposited in the national treasury. The company has also been ordered to reinstate the woman to her job.
In the written order, Viqar stated that “motherhood should never be treated as a hurdle in a woman’s career” and stressed that job security during maternity leave is a fundamental right of every woman.
According to case details, the woman was hired as an HR Manager on July 20, 2022. Her maternity leave was approved on March 8, 2024, effective from March 14 to June 14, 2024. However, on April 24, 2024, during the approved leave period, she received a termination notice and was dismissed from service — prompting her complaint to FOSPAH.
The ombudsperson directed all institutions to fully uphold women’s constitutional and legal rights and ensure a safe, respectful, and enabling work environment. She emphasised that women must receive maternity protection, paid leave, respect, and equal opportunities without fear of job insecurity.