The Contribution of National Women in Labor market in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

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1 The Contribution of National Women in Labor market in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi The Contribution of National Women in Labor Market in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi

2 Executive Summary The Policy Agenda of the Emirate has addressed women s cause and related concerns, and stated that a special body for women s issues, will be established, to coordinate with all departments and agencies in Abu Dhabi, for protection of the interests of women, and to highlight the important role played by them as housewives, at work and in the society as a whole. This exemplifies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and stresses the belief of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi that the only way towards progress and prosperity in the emirate, is the involvement of women in economic and governmental aspects. With regard to the empowerment of women in the economy, the Economic vision 2030 emphasized the importance of raising the level of the contribution of UAE women in business activities, especially in remote areas. For this goal financial support will be provided for household projects, and practicing work at home will be encouraged. Abu Dhabi government is seeking to achieve women's participation at levels which commensurate with comparative economies such as Ireland and Singapore. This study aims at highlighting the status of women in the community, through achievement, success, support, gains acquired, participation in the development process, and entering into the labor market. The study adopted on two main approaches; the first depends on international statistics, and the data released by the Statistics Center -Abu Dhabi for reviewing the status of women in the UAE in general and in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in particular, using health and education indicators, compared to the Gulf states, and some other selected countries. The second substrates to an opinion poll questionnaire for citizens of working age (15-64), distributed in the three regions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Western Region). The study reached the following conclusions and recommendations:

3 Summary of Main Findings and Recommendations and Proposed Implementation Mechanisms Findings Recommenda tions Proposed Implementation Mechanisms The low participation of women in labor market, which reached 41% in UAE and 15 % at the level of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, compared to both Qatar and Kuwait in the GCC, in addition to Norway, Ireland, and Singapore. Reviewing laws and legislation regarding women. Enacting legislation which guarantee the rights of women regarding; (working hours, maternity leave, breastfeeding, care for disabled children, special health conditions etc ) Reviewing the Civil Pensions and benefits Law, with view of the possibility of reducing the number of years of service; while ensuring the right of working women to receive full pension after the end of service. Low contribution of private sector to the absorption of citizens especially females, where the percentage rose from 4% in 2001 to only 6% in 2008, in addition to lack of legislation to take into account the conditions of working women. The largest percentage of female graduates Intervention of concerned entities to impose Emiratization of jobs on the private sector, as a kind of social responsibility. Proper guidance to students The need to enact a federal law to compel private companies employ nationals, as a proportion of the total employees, and to give them privileges similar to what prevails in government agencies. This should be under the supervision of a government agency (such as the Ministry of Labor, or the "Tanmia"); provided that a fund is to be established to support companies and to bear a proportion of salaries paid to citizens. Coordination of efforts between educational institutions and

4 focus on Theoretical disciplines, at the expense of technical and professional education, leading to lack of harmonization between the outputs of education and labor market needs Findings The most important challenges facing women include the balance between personal life and working towards achieving ambitions. The results of the questionnaire showed should be made by the families and schools in the pre secondary school phase, to help students select required and useful curricula. Recommenda tions The importance of assessing factors affecting the balance between working life of women, and their role as housewives who raise children; with emphasis on how to overcome embodied obstacles. Encouraging category this to employers to exchange information, and harmonization of educational disciplines, with the requirements of current and future labor market, to provide skilled and technically competent labor force for the 21 century. Proposed Implementation Mechanisms Activating the stipulations of policy agenda of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, through the creation of a special body to address women's issues. Priority is to be given to the establishment of a database for national women, to help in resolving their problems and develop their capabilities. The determination of percentages of share for women in senior management positions in ministries, agencies and government departments, giving them the opportunity of promotion, and compensation for the lack of continuity in the work due to special circumstances. Activating the ministerial decision concerning the establishment of nurseries at workplaces in government departments. Coordination between concerned stakeholders, e.g.(khalifa Fund,

5 that there is a large number of non-working, and unmarried national women. Those constitute an unutilized idle human resource, which raises the dependency ratio in the society. participate in private business, activating the role of the Khalifa Fund towards women in particular, and the promotion of women's participation in projects (creative thinkers, and owners of capital) Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council) to intensify awareness campaigns and promote the role of women in economic life, especially in Al Ain, and the Western ; and to increase women participation in free enterprises, by encouraging these projects and providing all types of support (funding, guidance, feasibility studies etc...). Within the goals set by Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, and the efforts of the Emirate, to diversify the economy, focus should be on (tourism and manufacturing industries) projects with partnerships between the private sector, and businesswomen shareholders), under the supervision of a government entity. General Recommendations: The role of family, school, and the media should be encouraged, for spreading the culture of work between members of the community from early stages, regardless of gender. Testing the application of remote working, for some graduates with certain specializations, and

6 individuals with special needs. Selecting a day in the month of April, as the UAE Woman Day, in which successful examples of the contributions of UAE women will be honored; and a The Best Idea prize will be offered to a woman for strengthening the role of UAE women in the community and the development process in the country. (Similar to the Arab Women Day in the February and the International Women's Day in March of each year).