Standardised time off in UAE gets unanimous support

Abu Dhabi: Emiratis and expatriates are unanimous that both private and public sector employees should be granted equal holidays and weekends.

Private sector employees work longer hours, do more overtime and get shorter holidays than their peers in the government and local departments. This makes public sector jobs more attractive to Emiratis and encourages them to quit jobs in private firms, they argue.

Standard holidays for all sectors eliminate confusion and help people get together and plan ahead for outdoor recreation. It also promotes Emiratisation in the private sector and cuts down on people who feign illness to match holidays, citizens argue.

Ahmad Khalfan Mohammad Al Badi, an employee in the Ministry of Economy, said he has friends who are seriously considering leaving their jobs in the private sector because of their long work hours and short holidays.

"The disparity in holidays between the private and public sectors also disturbs family life. A man who is working for the government may not be able to enjoy a trip with his family if his wife is working for a private firm."

Abeer Mahmoud, a computer programmer, believes longer official holidays for the private sector could help increase the productivity of workers.

"Standard holidays support family get-togethers. It is an excellent idea giving the private sector employees equal benefits like their peers in the government. On many occasions my husband and I failed to enjoy our holidays because they are not standard," she said.

Al Taher Khalid Farah, a bank officer, said equal holidays for the private and government sectors is a great idea.

"Definitely, it is a good idea granting workers standard and equal holidays regardless of their place of work. But in the retail business, it is very difficult to close down. Retail shops have more business during holidays, so we can't work on the same schedule," he said.

Ahmad Abdullah Al Nowais, a bank officer, said: "In principle, employees in the government and private sectors must be treated equally. But holidays should be on a rotating basis so that our lives can go on."