It has been greatly evident how quality among the genders has been promoted by the UAE leadership not just through plain initiatives, but through actual enforced legislations.
On the flip side, the private sector has to keep up with the implementation of these values and policies. Some women shared how they stood up to isolated incidents of discrimination, and how these instances motivated them to rise above challenges and prove that they are equally capable and competent as men.
One Filipina expat who has had her fair share of such instances is Mary Jane Alvero, CEO of Prime Group, leading quality and compliance solutions provider in the Asia, Middle East and North Africa.
At that time, she was working as a quality assurance officer. Despite her position, Alvero said her manager would often ask her for errands outside the scope of her job, such as bringing him a glass of water.
“I got fed up because I was busy preparing our documentation system. He kept bothering me, asking me to switch off the AC in his office and to bring him a glass of water,” she narrated.
“I decided to stand up for myself,” she said, adding that she confronted the manager as the feeling of not being treated right was strong enough to let it slide.
The manager, she added, was furious and demanded the chairman of the company to fire her. But this was not how it went; the chairman stood by Alvero and sacked the manager instead. That incident had created a precedent for the company to implement a zero-discrimination policy, which Alvero truly admires till this very day.
“The board of owners have trusted me to be a part of the group, to be a part of the company. That’s why, I’m so proud of this company because we don’t tolerate discrimination or bullying. Since I was a victim of workplace politics, I never allow it to happen in this company. As long as I’m here, it will never happen, especially to a woman,” added the CEO.
