Dubai: At some point in their career, many women take several weeks off to connect with their newborn. Countries differ with regards to the length of maternity leave granted to women, but in the UAE, there have been calls to amend the maternity leave provision for employees in the private sector.
Working mothers observed that the maternity leave benefit in the UAE is a bit short compared to other countries. Women said they need at least 90 paid leave days to be able to bond with their new offspring.
The Federal Labour Law in the UAE stipulates that working women are entitled to 45 calendar days of maternity leave with full pay, provided they have at least one year of continuous service. Those who have worked for less than one year are entitled to maternity leave at half pay.
“Upon the expiry of her maternity leave, a female employee may take up to a further 100 consecutive or non-consecutive days of leave without pay if such absence is due to a pregnancy-related illness and an employer may request that such sickness absence is medically certified,” said Sara Khoja, partner at Clyde & Co’s employment group, told Gulf News.
“During the 18 months following any period of maternity leave, a female employee nursing her child is entitled to two additional breaks per day to nurse her child, neither of which can exceed 30 minutes. Such breaks are counted as being part of the employee’s hours of work and are paid.”
Pierre Mehawej, legal consultant at Kanaan and Azhari Advocates and Legal Consultants, clarified that the leave days allotted for maternity are “not to be deducted from other leaves.” “She can still enjoy her annual leave of 30 days,” said Mehawej.
Experts in the human resources industry acknowledge that amendments in the leave provision are necessary, not just in the UAE but in other neighbouring countries as well.
Mercer, a consultancy firm focused on talent, health, retirement and investments, said the most generous markets can be found in Europe, including Sweden, Germany and England, which allow for extended maternity and even paternity leave.
“In Sweden, for example, parents are entitled to paid parental leave for 18 months, divided between parents and not taken at the same time,” Mercer said in a press statement.
In Saudi Arabia, Mercer said, women who have been under contract for more than a year are entitled to four weeks of leave immediately prior to expected delivery date, followed by a subsequent six weeks of leave at half pay (full pay if they have over three years of service). As soon as the mother returns to work, she can have one additional hour of paid breaks during the day to nurse the baby.
“Things need to change, especially as [Saudi] vies for an increase in recruitment from both Saudi nationals and expats. For Saudis, unattractive maternity benefits continue to deter growing instances of female employment, and for expats, unattractive packages may serve to hinder retention,” noted Dorian Hannington, leader of Mercer’s health business in Saudi Arabia.
There are countries outside Europe that are also “stingy” when it comes to offering women adequate time with their baby. Mercer said the list of “worst offenders” includes United States, which grants six to 12 weeks, Lebanon (seven weeks), Taiwan (eight weeks) and Hong Kong (10 weeks).
Rania Khadra, a Jordanian national, said mothers in the UAE should be allowed to spend at least three paid months with their child before returning to work. “[45 days] is surely not enough as the mother herself would still be adjusting to her new self and at the same time trying to connect with her baby. I would personally think that three months is the bare minimum that should be given as paid maternity leave. I think it’s quite rare that a working mother would opt for the unpaid leave,” she said.
Aside from the 90-day paid leave, it will be beneficial for women if the unpaid leave is fixed at 180 days, said Sonia, an expat from Singapore.
“It is essential for a mother to [bond with her newborn] for a longer time after birth. The child needs quality care, feeding and attention by the mother,” added Anna from the Philippines.
