UAE announces 3 months PAID maternity leave

UAE announces 3 months PAID maternity leave

The decree shall take effect four months after being published in the official gazette.

The UAE has announced a three-month paid maternity leave for Federal Government employees.

The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, issued Federal Law 17 for the year 2016, amending some articles under Law 11 of 2008, regarding human resources of the federal government.

According to Article 53 of the amended law, confirmed female employees of the Federal Government will be granted a three-month paid maternity leave. They are also entitled to a two-hour break daily to breastfeed their babies for a period of four months from the date of delivery. However, they cannot combine the maternity leave with leave without pay.

The decree shall take effect four months after being published in the official gazette.

Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Women Establishment, welcomed the decision taking to Twitter her reactions on her official handle @MMbinRashid.

According to Article 51, sick leave for federal government employees is permitted based on a medical report approved by an official medical entity and should not exceed five continuous business days per one application, and a maximum of 15 days per year.

If the ailment duration exceeds such a period, approval for sick leave will be granted on the basis of a report issued by a medical committee.

Item No 2 of the article specifies that in the case of long sick leave, the first 15 business days will be fully paid and the days will be deducted from the employee's annual leave, if he/she has a balance.

If an employee does not have a balance of annual leave, it will be considered leave without pay.

If an employee takes more than 15 business days in a year, the federal body is obliged to refer him/her to a medical committee, which shall decide on the health status of the employee.

Article 55 stipulates that federal government employees are entitled to a five-day paid leave in case of the death of any of their first of kin. They will be entitled to a three-day paid leave in the event of the death of any of a second-degree relative.

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