The Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) ruled against Daily Jang Rawalpindi in a case filed by five senior female employees that they were forced to work during night shifts “without justification or safety provisions.” The women said that the shift change and the lack of basic facilities had resulted in a “hostile work environment.” FOSPAH ruled it a “clear case of gender-based discrimination disguised as administrative changes.”

The complainants, with over 18 years of service, approached FOSPAH after being abruptly transferred from day to night shifts without written orders. The women also reported that no safe transportation was provided despite their late working hours, creating a discriminatory and stressful work environment.

During the proceedings, the newspaper’s management claimed the changes were part of their “administrative prerogative” and argued that the issue did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.

However, FOSPAH found Daily Jang Rawalpindi in violation of Section 45(b) of the Factories Act, 1934, which prohibits women from working beyond 10 pm and requires safe transportation for work past 7 pm. The accused admitted in the hearings that no transport arrangements were made and denied any responsibility for the safety of the complainants returning home at 2am.

FOSPAH described the accused’s response as an “indifferent and prejudiced mindset.”

In its ruling, the Secretariat directed the immediate provision of proper night-time transport for all affected employees and imposed a complete ban on assigning work to women beyond 10pm.

Additionally, both accused officials were penalized under Section 4(4)(i)(d) of the 2010 Act, and ordered to pay Rs25,000 to each of the five complainants, amounting to Rs. 125,000 per accused.