Women feel unfairly treated in workplace

A group of students from the New York Institute of Technology gather before the start of their graduation ceremony on Wednesday at the Armed Forces Officers Club in Abu Dhabi.

More than half of women from the GCC feel they earn less than their male counterparts and that they have less chance of getting a promotion, according to a new survey on women in the workplace. Bayt.com, the online jobs portal, and YouGov Siraj polled 2,086 women in the Middle East, about a quarter of them in the UAE.

Even though the majority believed they worked equal hours and planned to keep working as long, 53 per cent felt they received less pay and 57 per cent said they were less likely to be promoted than their male counterparts. "This inequality could stem from many factors, including outdated stereotypes, and unequal education opportunities for men and women," said Amer Zureikat, Bayt.com's regional manager.

It could also be a result of workplaces that are poorly equipped for female training and career progression, he added, including maternity leave and childcare options. "The good news is that with more and more women entering the workforce and climbing the ranks and occupying senior roles in industry, this disparity should naturally correct itself," said Mr Zureikat. Jeetu Sharma, a research associate at YouGov Siraj, said that the survey results quantify how women in the workplace "feel", not whether they do in fact earn less or get fewer promotions.

For Salama Nasser al Shamsi, who works in the culture department at the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), inequality is not an issue. "I don't think there is any discrimination," she said. "I know a lot of females, whether family or friends, they are highly placed - managers, heads of departments and all of that." Ms al Shamsi, who also works for a woman at TDIC, said: "My perception is that everything depends on the person and their attitude, how active they are and how loyal they are to their job," she said.

Dr Suaad al Oraimi, an assistant professor of sociology at United Arab Emirates University and an expert on women's issues, said equal pay, at least in the public sector, is guaranteed by the country's Constitution. However, geographical discrepancies can arise. A husband who works in a government department in Abu Dhabi, for instance, would earn more than his wife if she works in one of the northern emirates. Also, if a couple works for the Government, only the male will get an additional housing and children's allowance, as he is traditionally the family caretaker, Dr al Oraimi said.

But inequities also exist in the private sector in the area of promotions, she added, partly because women leave their jobs to take care of their children. "She has to take care of the family as well, which creates a gap between what is required of her and what she accomplishes, because she has to divide her time between the house and work," said Dr al Oraimi. "It scatters her effort." [e-mail]