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Working Mothers Hail Nursery
in Dubai Customs Premises

DUBAI — Soon, mothers working at the Dubai Customs won’t have to worry if their babies have had their meals or not. Dubai Customs is establishing a nursery within its premises, the first time a government oganisation is doing so in the UAE.

Dubai Customs, in collaboration with the Dubai Establishment for Women, will be setting up a state-of-the-art nursery in the main building of Dubai Customs.

A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed on Wednesday by Feryal Tawakul, Executive Director of Human Resources Division at Dubai Customs, and Reem Al Awabaid, Director of Administrative Affairs and Human Resources at Dubai Establishment for Women.

Following the initiative by Shaikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Establishment for Women, the nursery will start functioning in the first quarter of 2009. It is being established primarily to benefit the female staff of Dubai Customs.

The model nursery will be managed by a professional team of women and Dubai Customs will provide all necessary requirements, including toys as well as health care and education.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Tawakul said, “Some 20 per cent of Dubai Customs staff comprise women, of which 10 per cent are married. The nursery will meet international standards and will provide the best care to infants when their mothers are not around. “The services provided in the nursery will be free for Dubai Customs employees and will take care of infants in the age group of 0-4 years.

Talking to Khaleej Times, Al Awabaid said, “We encourage semi-government and private organisations to start such initiatives.”

Meanwhile, women employees of Dubai Customs have hailed the initiative. Buthaina, a woman staff of Dubai Customs said, “It’s a wonderful initiative. Most mothers worry about their children while at work, but no more worries for working mothers in this office now!”

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

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