QF webinar throws light on work-family balance in Qatari, Omani society
LOCAL and regional social experts have revealed the greatest work-family balance challenges in Qatari and Omani society, and explored how laws and legislations can be updated so this balance can be struck in both countries. This came in a virtual discussion organised recently by Doha International Family Institute (DIFI).
The Qatar Foundation (QF) member’s webinar, Work-family balance in Oman and Qatar Challenges and Experiences’, shed light on the similarities and differences between the countries based on two comparative studies conducted by the policy and advocacy institute.
The studies aimed to monitor the challenges faced by working parents – especially with regard to working mothers – and their significant impact on family cohesion. They also looked at the policies in place to help achieve this balance within the labour laws of the two countries in a way that serves the interests of both families and businesses.
Speaking at the webinar, Dr Sharifa Al Emadi, executive director of DIFI, spoke about the context of the studies and the importance of discussing ways to find a work-family balance, saying “In the past two decades, Gulf societies have witnessed an unprecedented increase in female education, which in turn reflects on the expansion of the contribution Qatari women make to the labour market.
“As DIFI aims to stimulate and support advocacy efforts, the studies focused on what working parents in the region may suffer from, due to a lack
of policies which coordinate work and family with regard to vacations, childcare arrangements, parental care and work requirements. They also highlighted the mental health issues that may occur in the absence of a balance.”
AishaAlSultan, a researcher at DIFI, reviewed some of the findings of the studies in both a Qatari and Omani context, saying “In general, the results were very similar with regard to the challenges that Qataris and Omanis face in achieving a balance between work and family, due to their similar social backgrounds, the high rate of women’s education in light of the economic turnaround following the discovery of oil in the Gulf region, and the remarkable participation of women in the workforce over the past few years.
Emphasising the importance of understanding and addressing the sensitivities of this issue, Dr Yahya bin Badr bin Malik Al Ma’awali, governor of South A’Sharqiya, Oman, told the webinar “Policies that enable coordination between work and family are certainly required.
“We also need to have thoughtful and flexible legislation which can be regularly adjusted to accommodate and keep pace with the changes that
happen at a state level.”
Panellist Dr Saleh Al Ghadoury, director of the Social Affairs Department at the GCC Executive Bureau, said “Women have become an active element in the labour market and a major contributor to productivity and economic support, and the success of working women has solved many problems – it has even saved entire families.
“There are some recommendations that may contribute to addressing the issue of work-family balance, such as allocating day care facilities close to business centres to accommodate the childcare aspect for working mothers.”
Najat Al Abdullah, director of Family Affairs at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and SocialAffairs, emphasized that the development of policies and mechanisms to enhance the strength of the family unit is an ongoing approach. She highlighted Qatari legislation that ensures the rights of working women, such as granting paid maternity leave for a period of two months, and three months in the case of twins the option of adding annual leave to maternity leave and the right to have a two-hour period for breastfeeding for a period of two years among other provisions.