Dubai: Employees of a privately-owned cooperative retail chain in the UAE will receive a one-month bonus to mark the centennial of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, according to the coop's management on Monday.

Khalid Humaid Bin Diban Al Falasi, general manager of Union Coop, said: "Union Coop is the first private-sector entity to implement the directives of the great leaders instantly and pay an additional one-month basic salary to all its employees by the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan." 

The cooperative is the first private-sector entity to implement the payoff, following the announcement on Saturday that all federal government employees and retirees, civilians and military, as well as beneficiaries of social welfare services will get a one-month basic salary as a bonus in celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, on May 6.

Majid Hamad Rahma Al Shamsi, Chairman of Union Coop, has announced that the additional basic month's salary will cover all the Union Coop's employees, to celebrate 100th birth anniversary of the late Shaikh Zayed which fall on Sunday, May 6.

The move follows the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Falasi, general manager of Union Coop, said: "Under the wise leadership of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid, we celebrate the immortal legacy of late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE. 

"Shaikh Zayed has always been an inspiration not only for the people of the UAE but for all Arab Islamic nations for his great contributions. Based on his vision and teachings, Union Coop is leaving no stone unturned to spread happiness and good within the community."