Islamabad ‘:
The Supreme Court has urged the Federal Government to ratify the Convention of Violence and Harassment of the Organization of International Labor (ILO) No. 190, the first binding international treaty that explicitly addresses the elimination of harassment and violence in the workplace.
In a nine -page trial, Judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah observed that the measure would reinforce the constitutional guarantees of Pakistan of dignity, equality and non -discrimination, would strengthen the legal protections for the workers of human rights standards.
The ruling was delivered in a case about a male worker who received a mandatory retirement as punishment for harassment in the workplace.
“Pakistan’s commitment to eliminate harassment in the workplace requires a stronger alignment with international legal frameworks. While the 2010 law and the amendment law provide a basis for protecting workers against harassment, the country It has not yet ratified the convention of violence and harassment of the standard ILO to prevent and address harassment in the workplace, guarantee legal responsibility and promote a culture of dignity and respect, “The declared statement.
A Division Bank of the Apex Court, led by Judge Shah and Judge Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi, also ordered that a copy of the sentence be sent to the Attorney General for Pakistan for consideration regarding the ratification of the Convention of Violence and ILO harassment.
The trial defines harassment in the workplace such as: “a variety of unacceptable behaviors and practices, or their threats, whether a single or repeated fact, which points, results or is likely to result in physical, psychological, psychological damage, Sexual or economic, and includes violence and gender -based harassment. “
The Court stressed that harassment in the workplace remains a pressing global problem, which affects millions of workers in several sectors. According to global statistics, more than one in five workers (22.8% or 743 million people) have experienced some form of violence or harassment in the workplace.
The trial pointed out that women had a little more probability than men to have faced harassment about their careers. Harassment in the workplace is not simply an individual complaint, since it is a systemic problem that perpetuates gender inequality by restricting women’s economic and professional growth.
According to the global gender gap index (2024), Pakistan occupies 145 of 146 countries, which makes it the second lowest in the world.
“In terms of economic participation, it occupies the 142nd position, which reflects a deteriorated situation for women in the workforce. These alarming statistics underline the persistent challenges faced by women in professional environments, particularly in countries with significant gender disparities such as Pakistan”.
The court observed that the prevalence of harassment in the workplace not only affects individual well -being, but also reinforces systemic gender inequality, limits the participation of women in the workforce and broad economic gaps.
The court indicated that harassment in the workplace and sexual harassment are deeply interconnected, both derived from the imbalances of power, systemic discrimination and the rooted social norms that reinforce gender hierarchies.
