The UAE’s President has issued a Decree amending the Federal Labour Law. Federal Law No. 8/1980 has been amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 6/2019. It was issued on 29 August and came into force one month after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Under the amendments, it will be illegal to dismiss pregnant women. If they do, the employee will be considered to have been arbitrarily dismissed under Article 122 of Federal Law No. 8/1980. The amendments also ban discrimination in jobs with the same functions or discriminate between people.

The Human Resources and Emiratisation Minister will issue decisions regulating work where men and women cannot both be employed.