UAE | General
Study offers new hope for women in the workplace
A study is planned to find out why women do not hold leadership positions in the workplace today, and what can be done to rectify this.
- By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:51 August 22, 2008
- Image Credit:
Dubai: A study is planned to find out why women do not hold leadership positions in the workplace today, and what can be done to rectify this.
"There is a wide gap between what we expect and what the current situation is," says Majda Naqi, Director of the Policy and Excellence Department at the Dubai Women's Establishment.
"Most of the contributions of UAE women to the workforce are not in key positions," she says.
The director believes one way to eliminate the gap is by creating more options for women, with more flexible work options, revising the current maternity leave law and setting up national child-care centres in government departments.
The establishment plans to set up rules and regulations concerning women and their affairs to help women maintain a balance between their professional and family lives. "The options will give women more flexibility at the workplace to have a proper work-life balance," said Naqi. "This does not exist at the moment for women."
The study looks into the dilemma facing the working woman in balancing, or deciding between, being a housewife or a working mother. The research will also address the fear of women relating to losing job opportunities due to becoming a mother.
"We want women to contribute more to the workforce because many women are talented and skilled but are challenged by obstacles that hinder them to contribute. We want to eliminate these factors. This is also for the employer who does not want to lose a highly qualified employee. We have to create options in the workforce for them to keep on track," said Naqi.
Flexible options include:
Job sharing: A full-time position shared by two people, each working 50 per cent of a full-time schedule;
Key time employment: Permanently or temporarily working less than the full hours;
Tele-commuting: Working from a remote location one or more days a week;
Shift flexibility: Employee replaces another for the same job within a 24-hour period.
"These options are not targeting top management positions. This will be implemented gradually at lower management level," she said.
The results of the study will be submitted to the Dubai Executive Council for review and approval. "We have the authority to raise issues to the Executive Council. If they give the green light then it will be a policy included in the human resources law for Dubai," said Naqi.
The study is yet to look at women working in the Dubai Government.
"The study is based on international practices such as in the US and UK. We try to tailor these options to suit the Government of Dubai."
Maternity leave
Public sector:
- 2 months (60 calendar days)
- 3 days of paternity leave
- Possible to combine the annual leave
- Possible to add 15 unpaid days
- 2 hours breast-feeding break (for 4 months)
Private and semi private:
- 45 days of maternity leave
- 1 hour breast-feeding break (for 18 months)
In a comparison with other countries, the average maternity leave across the region is three months.
The average maternity leave in 37 selected countries across the globe is 3.9 months.
In the UAE, it is only 60 days for Emirati women.
For partially paid leave:
The average maternity leave pay across the region is at least 60 per cent and upwards, allowing about 105 days.
The average maternity leave pay in the 37 selected countries across the globe is 74 per cent of the salary for 202 days.
In the UAE, there is no partial maternity paid leave.
Unpaid leave:
Some countries offer unpaid leaves for two to three years.
The average would be a year and six months.
In the UAE, it is only 15 days.
Does your company have flexible work options for women? Do you think such accomodating rules encourage women to be more loyal to their work? What more can be done to have happier employees?
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