State Bank fined Rs500,000 for denying paternity leave to staffer

Federal Ombudsperson for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH) Fauzia Viqar has imposed a Rs500,000 fine on the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for refusing an employee’s request for paternity leave.

According to a statement, the decision came after an officer of SBP’s Banking Services Corporation approached FOSPAH when his application for paternity leave was rejected. The bank had denied the request, citing the absence of a relevant internal policy.

In her landmark ruling, Fauzia Viqar emphasised that fathers are legally entitled to leave following the birth of a child. She said: “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.”

The ombudsman ordered that the complainant be granted 30 days of paternity leave with full pay.

FOSPAH also directed the SBP to establish a formal paternity leave policy in line with the Maternity and Paternity Leave Act, 2023, which was enacted in June 2023. The law provides leave entitlements for employees in public and private organizations under federal administrative control.

This decision sets a significant precedent, reinforcing fathers’ rights to participate equally in childcare and ensuring compliance with federal leave regulations.