FOSPAH fines state bank Rs500,000 over denying paternity leave

Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH) Fauzia Viqar has imposed a fine of 500,000 rupees on the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for refusing an employee paternity leave.

In a statement, the FOSPAH said the decision was taken after an officer of the central bank’s Banking Services Corporation had approached FOSPAH following his paternity leave was refused. The bank had rejected the leave application, citing the absence of a relevant policy, the ombudsman said.

The FOSPAH said this issuing a landmark decision reiterating that it was mandatory for fathers to be granted leave upon the birth of a child, after a 30-day paternity leave request was previously denied.

“Childcare is not solely the responsibility of women. Denying paternity leave is equivalent to undermining the shared responsibility of parents and the best interests of the child,” she said, ordering that the complainant officer be granted 30 days of paternity leave with full pay.

The FOSPAH also directed the SBP to formulate a policy in accordance with the Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2023. The Act was enacted in June 2023, to provide leave facilities for employees of public and private establishments under the administrative control of the federal government.