Equal Pay: UAE Announces Draft Law to Fix Gender Pay Gap

Men and women in the UAE will be equally paid according to a new draft law. (Shutterstock)

Men and women in the UAE will be equally paid as a draft law to ensure gender equality in the workplace is set to take effect.

On Tuesday, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, made the announcement of a draft law of gender equal pay.

On his official Twitter account, Shaikh Mohammad said the draft of the first gender equal pay and wage legislation was adopted during the Cabinet meeting.

اعتمدنا في مجلس الوزراء مشروع إصدار أول تشريع من نوعه للمساواة في الرواتب والأجور بين الجنسين . بقوة القانون وحكمه لا نريد أي استثناء في توفير فرص متكافئة بين الجنسين . دستورنا ضمن حقوق وواجبات متكافئة بين الجنسين ونسعى لتفصيل وإنفاذ وضمان هذا الحق الدستوري من خلال القانون الجديد

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 10, 2018

“With the force of the law and wisdom, there are no exceptions in providing equal opportunities between the sexes. Our Constitution includes the equal rights and duties of genders, and we seek to enhance, enforce and guarantee this constitutional right through the new law.”

.@HHShkMohd : The #UAE Cabinet endorsed a bill for the first legislation that ensures equal pay for men and women. Our constitution stressed gender equality & guarantees impartiality between men and women as a fundamental right.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 10, 2018

The UAE has taken great strides towards achieving gender equality and last year, authorities launched The Gender Balance Guide: Actions for UAE Organisations, which will be adopted by private and public organisations, as well as institutions, as a tool to advance gender balance in the workplace.

• Trump vs. China: How Trade Wars Could Affect Global Markets
• Opinion: Why Iraq’s Proposed National Oil Company Is a Hoax

The guide, which was established by the UAE Gender Balance Council in coordination with the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), was the first of its kind in the world.

Gulf News also reported that as of March 1, a new policy ensured that Dubai Government employees received a three-month paid maternity leave.

It is also permitted to add annual leave and unpaid leave to the maternity leave, with the condition that it does not exceed 120 days.

The new policy, which was approved by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, further extended breast-feeding period to two hours instead of one hour. 

By Mariam M. Al Serkal