The UAE government recently set up a committee to review and revise the maternity law in order to support the role of women in the workplace and close the gender inequality gap. The Labour Law currently entitles a working woman to 45 days maternity leave with full pay which includes the period before and after the delivery, provided that she has one year’s continuous service. Maternity leave is granted with half pay if the woman has not completed one year of service. In addition to the 45 days’ paid maternity leave entitlement, a female employee can take a maximum of 100 (consecutive or non-consecutive) days’ leave, without pay, if she suffers from an illness resulting from pregnancy or birth and, as a result, is unable to resume work. Timelines for reviewing and implementing any changes have not, to our knowledge, yet been set.
United Arab Emirates