Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council (FNC) yesterday warned the country was at risk of "losing women leaders" because of a lack of childcare centres in most government offices, especially the northern emirates.
"Childcare centres are very important for the stability of working women and the health of our children," said Dr Nidahl Mohammad Al Tunaiji, a member from Ras Al Khaimah.
She warned that the lack of these day care centres means more and more women leaders will quit their professions.
Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, said only a handful of government offices had opened the required childcare facilities since a federal cabinet decision outlining the provision of nurseries was issued in 2006.
"The decision is binding on all government department across the country, but the main reasons given by government bodies for not opening nurseries have been difficulties in finding appropriate locations with enough space or lack of funding," she said.
The decision instructed all departments at the federal and local level with more than 50 women employees or whose women staff members together have more than 20 children below the age of four to open nurseries on their premises.
"Many government entities have established a nursery or are in the process of doing so," Mariam said, adding the ministry received as many as 161 applications to set up these facilities.
