Sharjah Care Leave: Private Firms Urged To Give Mums Up To 3 Years Off, Flexibility

As Sharjah implements its groundbreaking Care Leave policy for government employees, providing up to three years of paid leave for mothers of children with disabilities or chronic illnesses, a call has been made for employers across all sectors, including private enterprises, to actively foster more flexible and supportive workplaces for working mothers.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director-General of NAMA Women Advancement, in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, emphasised that the success of such pioneering initiatives hinges on broader societal and corporate adoption of supportive practices.

“For Sharjah's Care Leave initiative to realise its full potential, it is essential for employers across all sectors to actively foster flexible and supportive workplaces,” Al Hammadi stated.

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She suggested that“practices such as flexible working hours, remote or hybrid working models, reduced workloads, and job-sharing can significantly enhance a mother's ability to balance professional commitments with caregiving duties.”

The newly introduced Care Leave, a directive from Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, grants mothers in Sharjah's government sector a fully paid year of leave, extendable up to three years. This policy, described by Al Hammadi as positioning Sharjah as a“global model", was developed following a comprehensive two-year study by NAMA.

NAMA offered its recommendations, in collaboration with Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, to Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi, Chairperson of NAMA. She presented NAMA's recommendations to Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi, who responded immediately to the needs identified in the study by issuing the directive to introduce the Care Leave policy.

“Private sector involvement in embracing these approaches will reinforce Sharjah's commitment to empowering mothers, ultimately benefiting families, organisations, and society as a whole,” Al Hammadi added. Beyond specific leave policies, she stressed the importance of cultivating“a supportive workplace culture, one that values and understands the realities working mothers face".

The government's Care Leave policy itself addresses significant challenges.“NAMA's two-year study highlighted these pressures in depth,” Al Hammadi noted, citing Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MoHRE) data indicating that among mothers of children with special needs, 2,545 are employed, while 5,361 are not working, and 352 have retired. The policy aims to allow these mothers“to prioritise caregiving without compromising their financial stability or career security".
To ensure the government policy remains effective, NAMA plans to gather direct feedback.“Plans are already in place to conduct field research to gather meaningful feedback directly from mothers who utilise this leave,” Al Hammadi revealed.
NAMA's vision extends to building an inclusive environment for women, with future recommendations including enabling remote work for temporary caregiving and expanding public nursery capacities for children with disabilities.“Supporting these mothers is more than social responsibility; it's a strategic necessity that drives inclusive economic growth and maximises the nation's human capital,” she emphasised.
The call for broader support from all sectors, particularly the private sector, underscores the understanding that empowering working mothers requires a multi-faceted approach, combining government initiatives with a committed and adaptable corporate environment.

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