Workplace harassment plagues state departments

LAHORE:

Although cultural beliefs surrounding fixed gender roles are enough to keep even the most accomplished women from excelling in their careers, workplace harassment emerges to be the final nail in the coffin of women’s professional ambitions.

In Punjab, the largest province of the country, which is currently headed by a female Chief Minister, a sharp increase has been observed in the incidents of harassment against women in government offices and public places during the past three years, with the departments of Education, Health, Police, Minorities, and Transport reporting the highest number of cases.

“My time at the Department of Education was a tough ordeal. During my visits, the male colleagues would harass me under various pretexts. Some even offered to do my work, if I agreed to meet them at their home,” shared a victim of harassment, who works as an officer at the Department of Education.

According to Nabeela Hakim Ali Khan, the Ombudsperson, a growing number of cases of workplace harassment have been brought to the Punjab Ombudsman over the past three years. Khan’s observation was supported by documents obtained by The Express Tribune, which indicated that cases of workplace harassment had observed a 100 per cent rise from 749 cases reported in 2021 to 1,500 complaints received in 2023, with 10 to 15 incidents brought to the fore per month.

Amina Malik, Head of Peace for Women was of the opinion that workplace harassment was a common vice plaguing all working women in Pakistan, regardless of whether they were associated with a private organization or a public department.

“Although the ‘Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act’ was introduced in 2010, many complainants fail to get justice since either their complaints are rejected, or they are dismissed from the job by private organizations. Even when the Ombudsman takes notice of a case, the justice delivery process is fairly sluggish. Therefore, it is the need of the hour for all institutions to form disciplinary committees which swiftly investigate such complaints so that the perpetrators can be taken to task,” urged Malik, who felt that special complaint boxes should be installed in offices to improve the reporting of harassment cases.

Naila, in charge of the harassment cell at a state department assured that a special counter had been set up for women to file their complaints. “We also accept online complaints, which are addressed later. A notice is issued three days after receiving a complaint, and a written response is requested within seven days. If there is no court stay, a decision is made within 30 to 40 days. In most cases, a compromise is reached,” said Naila.

“Unfortunately, in our society, women face various forms of mistreatment that often goes unreported. The police department has also established an intelligence unit that reports such incidents at the police station level. We then approach the victims on our own,” commented DIG Police, Dr Suleiman Sultan Rana.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, the Provincial Information Minister, Uzma Bukhari stated, “On the special instructions of the Chief Minister of Punjab, strict action will be taken against those who harass women. The government is trying to establish a conducive environment for women in every department. NGOs and other organizations working for women’s rights must assist us in our struggle against the vice.”