Not counting maternity leave in calculating pension rights is a violation of legislation on equality between women’s and men’s rights, ombudswoman Maria Stylianou Lottides said on Tuesday.

Lottides, acting as the organisation upholding equality and combatting discrimination, said in a report on a complaint filed by a female soldier in the Cyprus army that there was nothing to justify not recognising maternity leave as pensionable.

She added that it must be rectified without further delay and the pension rights she was denied must be paid retrospectively.

According to the report, the soldier said she was employed in May 1993, while pregnant. To be exempt from the military training of new employees, due to her pregnancy, the defence ministry forced her to take “leave without pay for serious family reasons”.

The ombudswoman said the woman had suffered direct gender discrimination.

Lottides has submitted her report to the permanent secretary of the defence ministry and the director of public administration, informing them of her intention to make recommendations.

The report has also been forwarded to the attorney-general and the members of the House committee on human rights.