Civil servants get leave to be with sick children

Dubai: Non-national government employees are entitled to a 21 day-paid leave to escort their sick children under 10 years for treatment inside the country, according to a resolution issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Shaikh Mohammad's resolution was based on a proposal submitted by the Minister of Governmental Sector Development and Chairman of the Civil Service Council.

As per the resolution, the wife or the husband shall be allowed, at the absence of the former, to escort the sick child below 10 years for treatment inside the country, for 21 paid days or the period the treatment will take.

The leave for accompanying a patient inside the country shall be awarded by the competent minister for the second grade employees and above.

The leave for the third grade employees and below shall be issued by the competent ministry under secretary.

According to the resolution, the competent minister can give the employee, based on an attested medical report, a month-long paid leave to escort his sick child for treatment abroad.

If the leave exceeds one month, the employee has the right to request an extension. The minister is empowered to extend the leave for not more than 15 paid days.

If the escort has completed the assigned periods, the issue shall be referred to the civil service council for action.

All authorities concerned shall put the resolution into action.

The resolution takes effect from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the gazette.

Shaikh Mohammad also issued another resolution concerning UAE nationals' periodical pay and allowance system for employees in federal government offices and departments.

Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Government Sector Development, said his ministry and the Ministry of Finance and Industry proposed the creation of two new grades, special grade A and special grade B, to be added to the national employees pay scale.

According to the new pay scale, yearly increments for under secretaries and assistant under secretaries shall be open. Previously, it had been limited to only 10 increments.

"The special grades A and B will motivate administration teams at federal ministries and encourage development of national human resources.

"The ministry is currently preparing merit requirements for entitlement to such grades," Al Masnouri said.

The resolution will go into effect as of January 1, 2007.

The Government Sector Development Ministry will circulate the resolution's articles to all federal ministries and departments.