Under the new policy, a female employee who gives birth to a child with a medical condition or disability requiring constant care will be eligible for fully paid care leave following maternity leave.
A new initiative called Care Leave has been approved by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to support working mothers in the Sharjah government sector.
The newly announced leave is designed for female employees who give birth to children who are either sick or have disabilities requiring continuous care. The Care Leave will begin once the standard maternity leave ends and may be extended depending on the child’s condition, subject to approval from the relevant authorities.
The announcement was made by Abdullah Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, during a live call on the popular “Direct Line” programme on Sharjah Radio and Television. The programme was hosted by Mohamed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority.
This move reflects Sharjah’s ongoing commitment to social welfare and inclusive employment policies, particularly for women balancing work with demanding caregiving responsibilities. It also adds to the emirate’s progressive stance on family and child care support within the workplace.
1. A medical report must be submitted from an authorised medical body.
2. The care leave will last one year with full pay after maternity leave ends.
3. The leave may be extended annually for up to three years with the relevant authority’s approval and a supporting medical report.
4. Should the child’s health improve, the authority may terminate the leave based on medical recommendations.
5. Employee performance during care leave will be evaluated under the existing performance management framework.
6. If the leave exceeds three years, the case will be referred to the Higher Committee for Human Resources.
7. The care leave will be counted as part of the employee’s total service.
Officials say the Care Leave policy acknowledges the unique challenges faced by mothers of children with health conditions or disabilities, and aims to provide them with much-needed time and flexibility during a critical period of care and bonding.
The exact duration and terms of the leave can be customised based on individual cases, offering a compassionate approach to workforce management.
This policy is expected to set a benchmark for other government bodies across the UAE to adopt similarly supportive family care measures.
