UAE Gives Equal Pay for Women and Men in the Private Sector

UAE’s equal pay law for women and men in the private sector takes effect from September 25th, 2020

Posted on

25 September 2020

| Last updated on 27 September 2020

by Clarice Awa

UAE Gives Equal Pay for Women and Men in the Private Sector

The new legislation was first approved by the UAE cabinet in April 2018

A new presidential decree ensuring equal pay for men and women in the private sector took effect on Friday September 25, 2020.

The new law, as issued by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, stated: "Female employees shall receive wages equal to that of males if they perform the same work or another of equal value."

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization said the new law will elevate the emirates' regional and international standing in gender equality.

Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, tweeted her congratulations to all the working women in the UAE private sector

She said: "This step will undoubtedly boost the social inclusivity of women, support their role in national development, and advance the UAE’s status on the world’s Gender Equality Index."

Congratulations to all the women working in the UAE private sector. This step will undoubtedly boost the social inclusivity of women, support their role in national development, and advance the UAE’s status on the world’s Gender Equality Index.

— Manal MR AL Maktoum (@MMbinRashid) September 24, 2020

The amended law, which updates a previous UAE federal law established in 1980, aims to encourage more women to join the private sector.

In addition, paid paternity leave has also been introduced in the UAE for men who are working in the private sector.

Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum reported that the UAE was a regional leader in bridging the gender pay gap.

The UAE ranked 26th worldwide in the United Nations Development Programmes’ 2019 Gender Inequality Index.

In 2018, the #UAE passed legislation guaranteeing equal pay for equal work to ensure equal opportunity for women and men in the workforce.

Equal pay is a major boost for women's economic empowerment, and the protection of women’s rights. #EqualPayDay pic.twitter.com/ztLQjsaHb5

— UAE Mission to UN (@UAEMissionToUN) September 18, 2020

The UAE ranked 26th worldwide in the United Nations Development Programmes’ 2019 Gender Inequality Index.