UAE Labor Law and Maternity Leave

The United Arab Emirates has specific labor laws pertaining to all staff and employees. The UAE also has laws regarding maternity leave and nursing time for female employees. The labor laws protect the rights of employees working for the UAE.

Paid Maternity Leave

UAE female employees are entitled to 45 days of paid maternity leave when they have a child. The 45 days can be a total of days before and after the birth of the child. If the female employee has been employed less than a year, she receives half of her pay during the 45 days of maternity leave.

Unpaid Maternity Leave

After the female UAE employee has completed her 45 days of paid maternity leave, the employee is able to extend the maternity leave by an additional 10 days. The extra 10 days of maternity leave are unpaid.

Additional Allowances

Female UAE employees who nurse their child are allowed to have two intervals of up to a half-hour each every day in which they are able to nurse or pump breast milk. This allowance extends for 18 months after giving birth to the child. These hours are not deducted from pay.

References

• Al Tamimi & Co.: Labor Law in the UAE