The Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) has issued a landmark ruling that directly impacts workplace monitoring practices. The body declared that excessive use of CCTV cameras to track employees now qualifies as workplace harassment CCTV.
Complaint That Sparked the Ruling
The case began when a female staff member from a private educational institute in Rawalpindi lodged a complaint. She reported that her employer constantly monitored her through CCTV cameras. In some cases, management even sent her images taken from the cameras, leaving her anxious and intimidated.
Ombudsperson Fauzia Viquar reviewed the evidence in detail. She noted that such surveillance was unnecessary and targeted, creating a hostile workplace. The ruling fined the institution’s chief executive officer Rs. 50,000 for misusing CCTV cameras. The ombudsperson also issued a formal censure and directed the institute to provide compensation to the employee.
FOSPAH went beyond punishing the offender. The institute must now implement new workplace reforms. These include forming an inquiry committee on harassment and displaying a code of conduct in both English and Urdu. The reforms aim to ensure that future complaints are handled promptly and fairly.
The ruling sends a strong message to employers. Harassment is not limited to unwanted advances or verbal abuse. It also includes acts that undermine dignity, violate privacy, or instill fear in workers. The misuse of CCTV surveillance clearly falls into this category.
The ombudsperson stressed that security tools should never be weaponized to control or intimidate staff. Instead, surveillance must serve its actual purpose protecting safety and property. Anything beyond that crosses into harassment.
This decision has set an important precedent for employee rights in Pakistan. It highlights that technology, if abused, can harm rather than protect workers. Employees deserve dignity, trust, and a safe environment. The recognition of workplace harassment CCTV as a legal violation reinforces the idea that respect for privacy is a basic workplace right.
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