Emirati mothers across Abu Dhabi’s private sector can now access up to 90 days of paid maternity leave in addition to financial support complementary to their salary, after obtaining the approval of their private sector employer.
The Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority (SSA) has recently announced the details of the new Maternity Leave Support for Women in Private Sector Initiative, which is part of the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi’s (DCD) recent Emirati Family Growth Support Program.
“This initiative is in line with the government’s directives to encourage Emiratis to join the private sector and aligns with SSA’s strategic vision of enhancing the stability of Emirati families while increasing their social contribution,” stated Dr. Bushra Al Mulla, director general of SSA.
Greater financial support
The initiative seeks to increase the duration of paid maternity leave for Emirati mothers working in Abu Dhabi’s private sector to 90 days. In addition, it allows Emirati mothers who work in the private sector to apply for financial support complementary to their salary during their paid maternity leave of up to 90 days, after obtaining the approval of their private sector employer.
The Abu Dhabi Social Security Authority will provide maternity leave support for up to 90 days, which serves as supplementary support for the mother’s salary. The initiative falls in line with the public sector’s practices, underscoring SSA’s efforts to enhance the growth and cohesion of the Emirati family. The initiative also aims to enable mothers working in the private sector to balance work responsibilities and caring for their newborns.
Dr. Ahmed Al Azeezi, executive director of the Social Support Applications Sector at SSA, said: “The Maternity Leave Support for Women in the Private Sector Programme, designed to complement the Nafis program, seeks to provide up to 90 days of paid maternity leave for Emirati mothers working in the private sector.”
Al Azeezi explained that the new paid maternity leave initiative relies on a collaborative approach and partnership with Abu Dhabi’s private sector entities and companies which the authority encourages to adopt this voluntary program.
“Our objective is to fulfill the goals of the Emirati Family Growth Support Program in Abu Dhabi, enhancing family stability and strengthening its social role,” he added.
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How to qualify for the new service?
The new service is available to Emirati mothers working in the private sector who have a family book issued in Abu Dhabi and have obtained a no-objection certificate from their employer. To qualify for this service, individuals must apply for the service within the first 30 days of the baby’s delivery. They must also provide a valid salary certificate, and their bank account details, including the IBAN. The child’s birth date must be on or after September 1, 2024.
The SSA will provide details in September 2024 regarding the service delivery channels and the commencement date for accepting applications for the Maternity Leave Support for Women in the Private Sector.
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