Involving more women in industrial sectors can boost the wider economy. AP
Involving more women in industrial sectors can boost the wider economy. AP
Involving more women in industrial sectors can boost the wider economy. AP
Involving more women in industrial sectors can boost the wider economy. AP

How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality


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It is no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic has been a major disruptor to economies at large and as we zoom in on the implications of this global fallout, a pattern of gender disparity becomes clear. As women are the ones who handle the bulk of family caregiving responsibilities and with the disruption of the childcare sector, women's jobs were 1.8 times more impacted by the pandemic than men. This not only raises a social dilemma, but will also have a measurable impact on the global economy, where the global GDP could be $1 trillion lower in 2030 versus $13tn higher if gender inequality is not properly addressed, according to a recent report by consulting firm McKinsey on the future of work.

Across the globe, pressures felt by women to assume bigger roles as the primary caregivers during the pandemic led to a disproportionate increase in time spent on family responsibilities. In India, this figure equated to a 30 per cent rise in time spent on unpaid care. Comparatively, women in the US spent an additional 1.5 to two hours tending to caregiving duties. The impact this has on the global labour force is further amplified by the fact that in some markets, such as Nigeria, women are disproportionately represented in sectors that have been negatively affected by the pandemic.

Gender parity is more than just a tagline and cannot be achieved through a single “cultural” initiative; it is a conscious business decision that enhances the bottom line, and one that should be integrated as part of the business model. As a first step, employers need to revisit their diversity and inclusion strategies and start identifying any existing gaps in their workplace cultures and organisational policies.

Saudi female employees work at the customer service desk at a hypermarket, newly launched by the operator LuLu and run by a team of women, in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah, on February 21, 2021. AFP
Saudi female employees work at the customer service desk at a hypermarket, newly launched by the operator LuLu and run by a team of women, in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah, on February 21, 2021. AFP
Efforts to create an inclusive culture have led to an increase in participation by women in the UAE's workforce

Today, the Middle East is falling behind. Despite improvements that have taken place in some industries and governments, the region overall still holds the lowest female labour force participate rate in the world, according to another McKinsey report from 2020 on the region's prospects for women at work. A study cited in the report in found that women in the Middle East are exposed to challenges including constrained interactions with seniors, limited support from team members and reduced exposure to role models and mentors. Other barriers that have been identified include limited policies on work-life balance, lack of clarity on advancement opportunities and lack of essential services at work.

Still, the picture is not all negative. In the UAE, the passing of a labour law in 2018 guaranteed equal pay for men and women who perform the “same work” or work of “equal value”. The following year, the UAE introduced three months’ paid maternity leave for government employees, placing pressure on the private sector to follow suit by increasing the number of days allotted to women, which currently stands at 45. Similarly, efforts to create a truly inclusive culture have led to a notable increase in participation by women in the UAE’s workforce, reaching 53 per cent in 2019, from 29 per cent in 1990. Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia set out to achieve 30 per cent participation in the workforce by women as part of the country’s Vision 2030 campaign. As of 2019, that figure had reached 23 per cent, up from 16 per cent in 1990.

  • A Palestinian woman works at a carpentry shop in Al Walajah village, close to the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Five years ago, a group of housewives began recycling waste timber into usable products, which were sold to souvenir shops. AFP
    A Palestinian woman works at a carpentry shop in Al Walajah village, close to the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Five years ago, a group of housewives began recycling waste timber into usable products, which were sold to souvenir shops. AFP
  • A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
    A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
  • A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
    A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
  • A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
    A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
  • A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
    A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
  • A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of al-Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
    A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of al-Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
  • Palestinian women work at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
    Palestinian women work at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
  • A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
    A Palestinian woman works at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
  • Palestinian women work at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP
    Palestinian women work at a carpenter workshop, established and run by a group of women, in the village of Al Walajeh near the West bank town of Bethlehem. AFP

In paving the way for more progress, employers should look to seize opportunities that make a measurable difference in addressing these gender disparities by upscaling their organisational policies and increasing female participation in their activities. As an immediate step, it is essential to educate the workforce through awareness-based trainings on gender equality with the aim of countering gender-based stereotypes and biases. At Nissan, where I manage human resources for the region, we run unconscious bias trainings and continue to roll out awareness initiatives to encourage employees to become more mindful of them.

As the Middle East region continues to play catch up, female recruitment becomes all the more significant. Increased female participation in the workforce, especially in industrial sectors such as the automotive industry, delivers substantial economic and societal benefits, including an uptick in business performance, financial independence for women in society, improved well-being and accelerated economic growth.

Rolling out gender-sensitive recruitment processes that integrate a diversity policy as part of the application process and setting diversity quotas for senior positions are examples of actions that can be taken to address this disparity. In addition to upscaling recruitment and appraisal policies, Nissan’s own experience has found that offering women access to mentorship programs can help them pave their path towards career growth, increase talent retention rates and positively impact the business.

Lastly, maintaining workplace flexibility and extending unique benefits are moves that also make a variable difference in employee retention. The pandemic has really showcased the endless possibilities of remote working and how it is extremely effective. Therefore, it becomes crucial for employers to offer flexible working conditions and remote-working schemes to accommodate the evolving needs of the female workforce.

The pandemic, in many ways, has been an eye-opening phenomenon. However, it is up to us to decide whether we want to ignore its lessons or leverage them as opportunities for change and growth. The repercussions of gender disparity have proven to be substantial, while the benefits of eliminating this imbalance could really enhance social and economic outcomes for millions of women around the world. Now is the time for corporations to act and, as we embark on a new year, it is the perfect time to start introducing forward-thinking changes to the workplace.

Samar Elmnhrawy is vice president for human resources and general affairs at Nissan Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:

  • Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic

Power: 169bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Price: Dh54,500

On sale: now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

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What is tokenisation?

Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets. 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

World Cricket League Division 2

In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.

UAE fixtures

Thursday, February 8 v Kenya; Friday, February v Canada; Sunday, February 11 v Nepal; Monday, February 12 v Oman; Wednesday, February 14 v Namibia; Thursday, February 15 final

The Bio

Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees  (oats with chicken) is one of them

Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.

Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results

During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks

Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy

Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WTL%20SCHEDULE
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Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

MANDOOB
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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Company Profile 

Founder: Omar Onsi

Launched: 2018

Employees: 35

Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)

Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners