The Al Ain Municipality has signed a contract to provide a nursery that will help employees manage their children better.

The 370sqm nursery facility will be established in the municipality's main building, and will cost an estimated Dh1.5 million and is expected to be operational in six months. The service, which will be the first of its kind in government departments in Al Ain city, is part of new measures to improve the working environment for women.

"The move is part of Al Ain Municipality's keenness to support its employees and provide them with better and superior service standards and an appropriate environment for working mothers," said Badr Hamad Al Ameri, general supervisor of investments at Al Ain Municipality.

The official said a nursery at the municipality premises would enable working mothers to breast feed their children at any time and without having worries of rushing back home.

The UAE Child Rights law requires mothers to breast-feed their children for two years. A member of the Federal National Council (FNC) said during the passing of this legislation that the law aimed to make breast-feeding "a duty and not an option" for able mothers.

The members had also proposed that all government offices must provide a nursery so working mothers can breast-feed.

Source: Khaleej Times