In a world that still measures success by clocked hours, Sharjah has taken a brave and much-needed detour, one that speaks the language of compassion. A new directive allows working moms in the Sharjah government sector to take up to three years of fully paid leave to care for children with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Yes, fully paid. Not part-time. Not reduced. Just dignity, care, and time, wrapped in a policy.
Sharjah’s Care Leave Policy For Working Moms
This landmark decision, issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Al Qasimi, didn’t emerge from thin air. It followed a two-year research initiative led by NAMA, in collaboration with Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services. The findings were sharp but not surprising, as thousands of mothers caring for children with special needs had dropped out of the workforce. Their decision was not due to a lack of ambition, but because reality left them no choice.
Of the mothers surveyed, only 2,545 were employed. Over 5,000 had left their jobs. Some retired early. The numbers made one thing very clear, caregiving was costing women their careers, their financial independence, and in many cases, their sense of self. This policy aims to change that, not just by offering paid leave, but by restoring a mother’s right to choose family without sacrificing her future.
Will The Private Sector Implement This Policy?
Al Hammadi, a representative of NAMA, put it, Sharjah is setting the bar, but it’s time for others to follow suit. Private sector is yet to speak an official word about this because this isn’t just about “generosity” or corporate social responsibility. It’s about recognising the labour of caregiving.
And this support doesn’t stop at leave policies. NAMA is already mapping out the next steps, remote work flexibility for temporary caregiving, more nursery spaces for children with disabilities, and research-backed feedback systems to keep the policy grounded in real-world effectiveness.
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Companies that truly want to retain talent and foster innovation must build workplaces that are more than just efficient, they must be human. It means valuing the mother who’s up at 3am managing medications as much as the employee who hits every deadline. It means designing systems that work for people, not forcing people to fit the system.
Sharjah’s policy proves it just needs leaders who listen, respond, and act. This bold move calls on employers everywhere to rethink how they support their people.
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