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Eight Objectives Set for Child Care Centres at Workplaces for Emirati Women

DUBAI - A set of regulations to govern and develop model child care centres at workplaces for Emirati women were announced
on Monday.

The National Child Care (NCC) Standards manual, developed by Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), defines eight main objectives and services to be provided by all child
care centres.

Though several establishments have had such facilities for a long time, the first centre to follow NCC regulations is expected to be set up in a few weeks at the Dubai Ports
and Customs.

Under NCC standards, all centres will have to care for child safety, proper nutrition, equipment and follow proper educational methods, to name a few, said Maitha Al Shamsi, Managing Director, DWE.

As per the UAE law, all government departments and public establishments are encouraged to set up child care centres for their female employees.

Though private establishments are not required by law to do so, they may take part in
the initiative.

However, they do not fall under the purview of the NCC standards.

The centres will also encourage early learning and follow a specially developed curriculum for pre-school children (0-4) with Arabic as the first language.

Gulf Montessori will be providing training to the teaching staff of all
the centres.

The current status of child care in the UAE is limited to grannies and nannies who only feed and change the baby, said Hassa Tahlak, DWE Senior Manager of Research and Analysis.

“NCC was developed after a study held among Emarati women who said they were unable to find suitable help for their children while they worked,” added Hassa

It applies to all centres that have more than 50 female employees (and around 20 kids).

The centres may either charge for the service depending on their requirements or opt to provide it free of cost as part of benefits to their employees, said Hassa.

She also said that though preference would be given to nationals, expatriates working in government departments too, could avail of the service.

Emarati women form 60 per cent of all governmental employees. The standards were based on a study conducted among 5,000 UAE national women out of which 1,186 are working.

Of those surveyed 92 per cent showed interest in bringing their kids to the workplace if there was a child care centre available.

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