"Ask the Law: Can employer deny maternity leave if it is not provided for in labour contract?", 14 Jan 2022

"...I had signed a job offer letter, stating that I would not be legally entitled to a paid maternity leave...according to the new Labour Law, will the job offer letter that I had signed be treated as void?..."

...You are definitely entitled to a paid maternity leave. Any condition that contradicts the provisions of this Decree Law, even if it was prior to its enforcement, shall be considered null and void...According to Article 30 of the Federal Decree Law No 33 of 2021 on the regulation of labour relations, a female worker is entitled to maternity leave of 60 days under the following conditions:

• The first 45 days with full pay.
• The next 15 days with half pay.

The employer shall have to grant maternity leave whenever the female worker requests for it, at any time starting from the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the delivery is expected...

The employer is not allowed to terminate the worker’s service or warn her because of her pregnancy or for obtaining maternity leave, in accordance with the provisions of this article.