A new law will come into effect from Saturday according to which men and women in the private sector will be given equal pay.

The President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced that women will be paid as much as men for the same jobs. He announced the decree that wages will be given as per the market standards and not gender.

According to the international news agency, article 32 of Federal Law No 08 of 1980 regarding the regulations of labor relations will be altered to the effect to promote gender equality in terms of salaries in the private sector.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation started working for promoting gender equality in terms of wages by implementing a decree on August 25.

The ministry said that the UAE’s regional and international status for upholding gender equality will be strengthened.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the decree is a “new positive step in the process of empowering women in the Emirates”.

Her tweeted that the new law will help establish a modern state that implements equality and justice.
Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said 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”.

“Congratulations to all the women working in the UAE private sector,” she tweeted.