UAE to unify public and private work systems

Employees of both the private and public sectors will have an opportunity to obtain the same annual, maternity, paternity, mourning and study leaves and opt for flexible and temporary work models, starting from February 2, 2022

On Monday general provisions, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced that the working systems of the federal government and private sectors will be unified. Under the new Federal Decree Law no. 47 of 2021, limited contracts only will be applied in the UAE’s labour market.

The new provisions, approved by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, are part of the UAE’s largest legislative reforms along with 40 new laws, the goal of which is to spearhead the country’s next five decades.

Types of leaves full-time public and private sector employees are entitled to:

• Maternity leave of 60 days (45 days at full pay, with an additional 15 days at half pay),
• 5-day paternity leave for men,
• 5-day leave upon the death of a spouse and 3 days upon the death of a direct family member,
• 90 days of sick leave a year (including 15 paid days, 30 days at half pay and the rest unpaid),
• 10 days off a year for exams for workers enrolled in a UAE-accredited educational institution or uni inside or outside the country.

“His Excellency Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, announced the details of Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2021 regarding the unified general rules for work in the UAE, from February 2, 2022, and its provisions apply to federal government employees and workers in the private sector,” – Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

“Through unifying both sectors, we aspire to establish an integrated, sustainable and efficient work environment in the rapidly-changing post-pandemic world.”

Last month, the ministry announced the new UAE labour law with major reforms to increase the flexibility of the private sector in the post-pandemic world. The general provisions bring both the private and public sectors under the same regulations.

Employees across the country will also be protected under anti-discrimination provisions that prohibit employers from recruiting on the basis of race, colour, gender, religion, nationality, social origin, or disability.