Abu Dhabi: Working Emirati mothers now have new rights to take a leave from their jobs and raise their children, according to the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA). Under Federal Law No. (57) of 2023, mothers can take up to three years of paid leave while continuing to pay monthly contributions to secure a lucrative end-of-service benefit.
The new initiative is part of a broader effort to support and empower Emirati women in various fields. The law is designed to recognize the vital role of women at home and in the workforce by offering them financial and moral support.
It also provides special benefits for female breadwinners. For example, widows can merge their pension with that of their late husband, and pension shares are redistributed to give a larger portion to the widow if she has more than one child.
Additional provisions reduce the required contribution duration and age for married, divorced, or widowed women with children. This means that Emirati mothers benefit from fewer years of contribution payments for each additional child, easing their return to work when they are ready. The new rules build on earlier laws that allowed women to purchase additional service years compared to men, ensuring equal distribution of pension benefits among family members.
