Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that a presidential decree mandating equal wages for men and women in UAE’s private sector took effect on Friday.
The new law states that “female employees shall receive wages equal to that of males if they perform the same work or another of equal value.”
A decree was issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the Emir of Abu Dhabi, the Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces and the Chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council, to implement the landmark legislation.
A draft form of the new legislation was first approved by the UAE Cabinet in 2018.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation stressed that the new law will help strengthen the country's regional and international status for upholding gender equality.
Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and President of Dubai Women Establishment, hailed the key ruling on Twitter: "Congratulations to all the women working in the UAE private sector. This step will undoubtedly boost the social inclusivity of women, support their role in national development, and advance the UAE’s status on the world’s Gender Equality Index."
According to a World Economic Forum report published earlier this year, the UAE leads the region’s countries in bridging the gender pay gap.