The UAE Will Be The First Arab Country With Paid Paternity Leave

The amendment to the UAE’s labour laws was approved by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE

Workers in the private sector will rejoice, as the country’s officials have announced a new law which will benefit new fathers throughout the emirates.

According to Gulf News, male employees in the private sector will be granted paid ‘paternal leave’ within the first six months of their child’s birth, for a period of five working days.

The UAE previously did not require private sector companies to provide paid leave to male staff and any paternity leave granted to workers was at the discretion of their employers.

Under the new law, private companies will be mandated to give both male employees five days of paid parental leave, to be taken within six months of the child’s birth. Women working in the private sector are entitled to 45 days of full pay for maternity leave, provided they have served continuously for at least a year.

The amendment to the UAE labour laws was approved by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, in August 2020, and will start to be enforced within one month’s time. This new amendment on paternity leave, demonstrates the UAE’s vision and continued forward movement in relation to gender equality.

Lead Image Courtsey of  Unsplash/ Jude Beck