UAE’s 45-day maternity leave lowest in the world

Well below the global average of 14 weeks stipulated in the ILO Convention

By
  • Waheed Abbas
Published

Well below the global average of 14 weeks stipulated in the ILO Convention. (SUPPLIED)

Maternity leave in the UAE is the lowest in the world and less than half of global standard set by International Labour Organisation, according to United Nations statistics.

Currently, the duration of maternity leave in the UAE is only 45 days while international standard in the Maternity Protection Convention 2000 of International Labour Organisation is 14 weeks, said the UN report.

Most of the neighbouring Gulf countries also don’t match the global average for maternity leave. Bahrain and Qatar laws allow only 45 and 50 days leave, respectively, while Saudi women can be granted 10-week leave.

Sweden offers the longest maternity leave of 480 days; Albania, Croatia, Serbia and United Kingdom provide one-year leave.

UN said only half – specifically 85 - of the countries worldwide meet the new international standard for minimum duration of maternity leave and two out of five meet the minimum standard for cash benefits.

The report also revealed that the UAE fertility rate has more than halved during the past 30 years to the lowest level in the Gulf region.

 

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Comments

  • Anna 13 December 2010 14:39 2 0
    It is so important for a mother to stay with her baby for at least 3 months! Better half a year! It is shocking that such an advanced and modern country doesn't give this time. The woman should stand up and ask for the change, not all can afford to stay at home after delivery and never go to work again
  • john 25 October 2010 18:25 0 0
    U.A.E should meet international standards on that matter. The value of familly is important in the country.
  • Judith 25 October 2010 16:12 0 0
    Most companies in US would give 30 days before the baby and 30 or 40 after the baby as maternity leave, at full pay. Not a whole lot, especially if a baby decides to come late. Can try going on half pay for another 30 days, but is not well regarded at all. With UAE women having plenty of household and family help, if working full time, would be interesting to know why fertility rate declined.
  • Fathima 25 October 2010 14:32 2 0
    The UAE law should be amended to allow women to have the minimum requirement of maternity leave as specified in the standards of the ILO. Every mother has to provide her new born with the love, care and nourishment the child deserves. This care cannot be provided in the first 45 days. The mother and the child have to bond and; get used to each other in these early stages and this is where the ILO standards help.
  • Reshma 25 October 2010 13:36 3 0
    I think the maternity leave should be increased to at least 120 days in the UAE.

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