Private employer fined Rs500,000 as harassment watchdog reinstates woman fired during maternity leave

The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) on Tuesday declared the dismissal of a female employee during her approved maternity leave an act of gender-based discrimination and harassment. The authority ordered her immediate reinstatement and imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 on the private employer.

The complainant had received approval for six months of paid maternity leave from November 13, 2025, to May 13, 2026. Management directed the employee to resume duties before the expiry of the sanctioned leave period.

The employee informed the employer that early return remained impossible due to post-surgery recovery, the age of the newborn child, and the lack of childcare arrangements.

FOSPAH noted that the employer revoked the complainant’s official email access without initiating disciplinary proceedings.

The management took the decision to terminate the employee while the maternity leave remained active. The Ombudsperson observed that the employer pressured the employee to resign before the leave ended, ruling that discrimination based on maternity status constitutes gender-based discrimination under the law.

The private institution must reinstate the complainant and submit a compliance report with documentary evidence to the Registrar within 15 days.

In a similar case, FOSPAH imposed a penalty of Rs 1.2 million on another private organisation for unlawful termination, gender-based discrimination, and psychological harassment of a female employee on maternity leave.

The authority held the organisation liable for violating the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 (as amended), and directed corrective measures in compliance with the law.

The employee, who worked in an accounting role, received news of her termination via telephone while on approved maternity leave. Management issued no formal termination letter or written notice, nor provided reasons for the decision.

The management later informed the worker that her name appeared on a final list of employees whose services ended upon completion of maternity leave.

FOSPAH reviewed witness statements alongside documentary evidence and ruled that informing an employee of termination during protected maternity leave constitutes adverse treatment linked directly to maternity status, amounting to gender-based discrimination and psychological harassment.