Ninety days of maternity leave is now available to employees of the Dubai Government.
According to a report published in the Khaleej Times, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued Decree No. 14 of 2017.
The decree is concerning maternity and childcare leave for female employees of the Dubai Government.
“The Decree aims to promote a balance between career and family, support the rights of working women and provide a legal framework for enhancing gender balance,” the report said.
The decree will be applied retroactively, meaning previous nursing breaks can qualify for its provisions.
“Pursuant to the Decree, any full-time or part-time employee in a permanent position is entitled to 90 days of maternity leave from the date of delivery,” the report said.
“The employee can also apply to start her maternity leave 30 days before her due date on the condition that the leave is taken continuously,” it added.
Under the new decree, Dubai Government entities with over 20 female employees are reportedly mandated to establish a nursery for employees’ children below the age of four.
On the other hand, Dubai Government entities with less than 20 female employees can partner with two or more government entities to jointly establish a nursery.
The government employee applying for leave under the decree can also maximize to 120 days her leave by combining her maternity leave, regular annual leave, and leave without pay.
A sick leave can be applied for by the employee if she suffered a miscarriage before the 24th week of her pregnancy and have the medical documents attesting to the miscarriage.
Sixty days of maternity leave is then available to an employee who had a stillbirth or a miscarriage after the 24th week and have the medical documents attesting to the miscarriage.
A childcare leave for one year, renewable up to 3 years, can also be applied for by an employee who gave birth to a child with a disability. She will need medical documents attesting to the condition of her child and the approval from the concerned senior official in the government entity.
Basic monthly salary, weekends and official holidays are to be extended during the maternity leave and childcare leave applied for under the new decree, said the report.
“Government entities may also contract nurseries close to their headquarters if the entity does not have adequate space for the nursery,” the report also said.
