The Gender Balance Council are proposing a law to introduce childcare into the workplace, according to a recent meeting.
Being a working mum in Dubai could soon be a little easier, if a proposed new law goes ahead.
According to a press release from the UAE Gender Balance Council, terms of a proposed law to introduce nurseries within the private sector are being discussed.
The council met on International Women’s Day to go over plans for the year ahead, which also include the roll-out of the UAE Gender Balance Guide book from September.
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The council also announced its upcoming participation in the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women conference, which will take place in New York later this month.
So, what about these nurseries?
Well, details are scant at the moment, but according to Dubai Media Office the council reviewed “recommendations on the proposed law to introduce nurseries within the private sector” during the recent meeting.
Currently, private companies aren’t legally bound to offer childcare, and the sector’s mandatory paid maternity leave stands at just 45 days.
Nurseries were first touted as a solution last year, when the Gender Balance Council said they were reviewing the country’s maternity laws.
And change is already afoot, as the government issued a new law giving federal government employees three months of paid maternity leave in November.
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The maternity leave law is being treated as a top priority due to its positive impact on society, according to the Dubai Media Office.
Currently, women account for 66 per cent of government jobs in the UAE, and they hold 30 per cent of the top positions.
We’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news on laws in the private sector as we get it…
Images: Getty, Dubai Media Office
