Sharjah royal calls for extended maternity leave

A member of Sharjah’s royal family wants mothers working in the UAE private sector to be granted extended maternity leave.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairwoman of the Sharjah Baby Friendly Office, said “we cannot truly empower women” unless maternity rights are safeguarded.

She said such a move would be a leap forward for “social justice” in the country. “Extending maternity leave for the private sector is an essential step to achieving social justice and true women’s empowerment,” Sheikha Bodour said.

UAE Labour Law says women are entitled to 45 days of maternity leave with full pay while male employees are entitled to three days of paternity leave.

A new Dubai International Financial Centre Employment Law that came into effect in August allows for maternity leave of 65 working days, with the first half at full pay and the second at half pay, plus five days of paternity leave. The law applies to companies in the DIFC.

Sheikha Bodour said Sharjah had played an important role in supporting mothers juggling commitments in the workplace and at home.

“More than five years ago, under the directives of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi … Ruler of Sharjah, our emirate became the first in the UAE to grant a 90-day maternity leave to all mothers working in Sharjah’s government departments,” she said.

“Family systems are at the core of Sharjah’s vision of human-centric development.”