The Employment Tribunal has increased maternity leave for its female members to six months, up from the previous two-month leave.
The amendment to the Code of Conduct for employees states that female employees will receive paid maternity leave of six months. The amendement was gazetted on Wednesday and will be effective immediately.
Female civil servants have been receiving up to six months of paid maternity leave since March 2019. However, boards of state companies and independent institutions can still decide on longer or shorter maternity leaves.
Previously, the tribunal had been granting two months of paid maternity leave to its members, even though its administrative staff had been receiving up to six months of paid maternity leave. The issue gained attention when a tribunal member, Shamma Ibrahim was informed to return to the office less than two months after giving birth.
Shamma had requested a longer maternity leave due to the health of her child, but the tribunal, where she had worked for over a year before giving birth, refused her request.
Shamma said that this was especially concerning, considering the tribunal's role in ensuring that employee rights are upheld.
The tribunal responded that it had provided all available concessions to Shamma.
The Tribunal said that they believe awarding such lengthy maternity leave to all their female members would affect the functioning of the institution and the services they provide to the public. As a result, all members had agreed to take leave in a way that will not disrupt their work.
The members' Code of Conduct stipulates that, after three months of service, members will receive three days of annual leave. After four months, an additional three days will be given, and after completing 12 months of service, members will receive 30 days of annual leave.
In the second year of service, annual leave will only be available for the remaining days from the first year's annual leave, which can be taken all at once or several times during the year.
Sign In