The ruler of Dubai passed a law approving maternity leave for government workers at 90 days from birth.
The ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, issued Decree No. 14 of 2017 on childcare leave for women workers in the Government of Dubai. The decree aims to strike a balance between career and family, support the rights of working women and create a legal framework to improve gender balance.
The provisions of this decree will apply to current maternity leave and childcare.
In accordance with the decree, any permanent or freelance employee is entitled to 90 days of maternity leave from the date of delivery. An employee may also apply for maternity leave 30 days before the due date, subject to continuous leave. In addition, the employee may combine maternity leave, regular annual leave and leave at his own expense with a total period not exceeding 120 days.
The decree also states that an employee who has had a miscarriage before the 24th week of pregnancy is entitled to sick leave based on an official medical opinion. If an employee has a miscarriage after the 24th week, he is entitled to 60 days of maternity leave.
An employee who has given birth to a disabled child has the right to one-year parental leave, which can be extended to a maximum of 3 years on the basis of a medical opinion and approval of the relevant official in the state body.
During maternity leave and childcare, the employee receives only the basic monthly wage; weekends and holidays are considered part of maternity leave and parental leave.
The decree also states that Dubai’s government should create a nursery for children of workers up to four years old if the total number of children of women workers is 20 or more. If the total number of children is less than 20, two or more government agencies can come together to create a special room together. Government agencies may also conclude agreements with specialized agencies for these purposes, if the organization does not have sufficient space for this.
