A Glimpse into UAE Maternity Leave

Maternity leave is granted to a working woman who is about to have a baby or just delivered. This period of absence from work helps in increasing the physical and mental health of mothers and also in creating a bond between the mother and baby.

Maternity leave in the UAE

UAE is a country that gives equal rights to men and women, be it in their personal life or professional life. The paid  maternity leave system  in the UAE provides female employees with the opportunity to balance their family and career without having to make any compromises.

A female employee in the UAE can take maternity leave for 60 days, out of which 45 days will be fully-paid leave and the rest 15 days will be half-paid leave. They can apply for maternity leave up to 30 days prior to their due date. Cases wherein a female employee becomes sick as a result of pregnancy or childbirth and is not in a condition to work, they can take an additional leave of up to 45 days. The additional leaves will come under unpaid leave category.  These leave days can be taken in a single stretch or as intermittent and to avail this medical certificate issued from the respective medical authority must be produced.

If the baby delivered by the female employee is sick or a child with determination, who needs to be constantly checked upon, then the employee can take leave for 30 days with full pay.  This leave can be taken starting after the end of the maternity leave upon producing a medical report issued by the medical authority. The leave can also be extended for a period of thirty days without pay.

Once the female employee gets back to work following the completion of her maternity leave, she can take one or two additional breaks(the duration of both the breaks must not exceed 60 minutes) each day for nursing her baby. These breaks can be taken for 6 months following the date of delivery and these are fully paid for.

Unlike in the past, maternity leave is now also available to female employees who have undergone a miscarriage or stillbirth after six months of pregnancy, which gives them the required time to recover from the trauma before resuming work.

Maternity leave is the right of any employee, which is mandatory for the well-being of the mother as well as the newborn baby. With paid maternity leave, women are no more left with the dilemma of choosing between their family and career. They are provided with sufficient time to take care of their baby with the financial security they deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does UAE grant maternity leave to their employees?

   Yes; female employees can avail maternity leave in UAE and they will be paid during this period.

2. How many days of maternity leave are granted to female workers in the UAE?

   A female employee in the UAE can take maternity leave for of 60 days, out of which 45 days will be fully-paid leave and the rest 15 days will be half-paid leave.

3. Can female workers take additional maternity leave?

   A female employee can take additional leave for 45 days(unpaid) if they become sick as a result of pregnancy or childbirth.

4. Can a female employee take additional leave if the baby is sick or has a disability?

   If the baby is not well or has a disability, the female employee can take 30 days additional leaves (fully paid). This leave can again be extended for a period of 30 days, but without any payment.

5. Is the period taken as unpaid maternity leave considered while calculating the period of service?

   Yes, the period taken as unpaid maternity leave is included while determining the period of service and also for gratuity calculations.

6. Is a female employee entitled to any extra breaks post-delivery?

   During the first 6 months after a female has delivered and resumed back to work, she is entitled to two additional breaks not exceeding one hour a day to nurse her young baby. These breaks are treated as part of her working hours and not part of the normal break.

7. Can an employer terminate an employee who is on maternity leave?

   No, It is not permissible to terminate the service of the female worker or notify her of the same because of the pregnancy, having a maternity leave or her absence from work in accordance with the provisions of article relating to maternity leave.

For a comprehensive understanding of leave policies in GCC countries, Please refer to our articles.

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