Gender Balance Council urged to ensure rights of working women

Dubai / WAM

The UAE Gender Balance Council (UGBC) recently
held its second meeting for 2017, which was led by the council’s Vice President, Mona Al Marri.
During the meeting, the council discussed various topics, including the preliminary results of the Gender Balance Index across federal government entities, pension entitlements for the families of deceased female employees, the council’s brand identity, and updates on the UAE Gender Balance Guide. The agenda also featured a session about UGBC’s key achievements since its first meeting in March earlier this year, as well as upcoming projects and initiatives.
Mona Al Marri welcomed attendees and extended the greetings of HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of HH Sheikh
Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Al Marri also highlighted Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed’s pride in the council’s achievements throughout the past two years and its success in building strong partnerships with related international organisations and entities.
She emphasised Sheikha Manal’s commitment to empowering the UAE to become one of the world’s top 25 countries in the UNDP’s ‘Gender Inequality Index’ by 2021.
During the meeting, council members reviewed the preliminary results of the Gender Balance Index across federal government entities through a presentation provided by the Prime Minister’s Office team. The presentation featured survey details of more than 64,000 employees within the federal government, to measure the performance of entities in providing a supportive environment which promotes gender balance.
According to a press statement, HH Sheikha Manal directed the General Secretariat of the UGBC to study the Pension and Social Security Law, and ensure the rights of working women. The council held a discussion with the General Pension and Social Security Authority, highlighting a clear gap in pension entitlements for heirs of deceased female employees, compared to those of deceased male employees, despite the similarity of their responsibilities.
The UAE Gender Balance Council has submitted its recommendations to the General Pension and Social Security Authority. During the coming period, the council will collaborate with the Authority in coordination with the Prime Minister’s Office, to amend the law and ensure equal treatment for the heirs of both female and male employees. This comes in line with the UAE’s ongoing
efforts to reduce the gender gap and drive women’s empowerment across all sectors, enhancing the country’s global competitiveness in gender equality.