ABU DHABI // The Ministry of Social Affairs is urging working mothers to insist on crèches in government offices.
Moza Al Shoomi, head of the children’s department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, said female employees had the full backing of the Vice President in demanding a workplace childcare centre.
And it is expected that a nurseries bill that is about to be passed to the FNC would actually force Government bodies to open crèches.
“All women need to know that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is supporting them,” Ms Al Shoomi said. “This was a decision the Cabinet made in 2006 and came into force in 2008.
“Women need to go to their managers and be confident that they cannot refuse their request as it came directly from Sheikh Mohammed.”
Ms Al Shoomi said studies showed crèches led to fewer resignations, greater productivity and more stable families.
A Cabinet resolution stated ministries and other Government institutions with more than 50 female employees should set up crèches or nurseries at their headquarters for their employees’ children.
But Ms Al Shoomi said only 39 Government departments of 320 had done so, partly because many women were unaware of their rights.
“Any Government entity, federal or local, with more than 50 female employees should open a creche, whether for local staff or expats,” she said.
A 2012 survey of 18 departments that had complied with Sheikh Mohammed’s decree found 14 said they had benefited from a creche, and 17 agreed it led to mothers asking for less sick leave.
About half said the number of resignations by mothers had decreased, and all agreed female employees were more punctual, the survey found.
Of 376 mothers surveyed, 91.2 per cent said they benefited from the crèches, 94.9 per cent said it helped to achieve family stability, 98.4 per cent said it helped to ensure their psychological well-being and 96.3 per cent said now they relied less on maids.
The survey found 91.2 per cent of the mothers said their children were more calm and 96.3 per cent said their children were less prone to home accidents.
Cost was also found to be on mothers’ side as 85.9 per cent said the crèches were cheaper than private nurseries.
Ms Al Shoomi said the crèches were also responsible for an increase in breastfeeding.
“If the entity refuses to open a creche, the employee can then file a complaint or go to the Minister of Social Affairs,” she said.
At least 20 government entities had been unaware of the Cabinet decision, Ms Al Shoomi said.
Another study, conducted by the ministry last year, found a lot of the departments lacked resources but she said it should be considered an investment.
“We at the ministry do not have a big budget,” Ms Al Shoomi said. “Most of our budget is spent on [social benefits] but we still managed to open five crèches for our employees in different departments.”
She said the ministry provided the space for crèches, which end up funding themselves, and that providing childcare was part of a company’s social responsibility.
“I call on all employees to demand their right. This right came from the Government. We must make employees make a move.”
Ms Al Shoomi said the new law on nurseries would make it obligatory for all government entities to provide a creche. The draft law will soon pass from the Cabinet to the FNC for discussion.
She said that once all government entities complied, the focus would shift to private companies.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, or Awqaf, is one of the government agencies that has built a creche.
“It has helped to support working women in the authority,” Awqaf said. “It has led to them being more productive.”
It said its creche had led to improvements in child development.
“This decision has helped us to reach great goals and we call on all government entities, and private, to benefit from [our] experience.”