Abu Dhabi: In another initiative aimed at advancing women's participation in the economic sphere, the UAE Gender Balance Council, in collaboration with the World Bank, hosted the 'Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value' workshop, focused on accelerating practical tools to support pay equity across sectors.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event was organised under the UAE Gender Balance Centre of Excellence and Knowledge Exchange. It brought together senior UAE government officials, private sector leaders, including representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, as well as global experts. The gathering aimed to build on current policy foundations and examine legal and institutional frameworks, job evaluation methodologies, and effective mechanisms to assess and address gender pay gaps.
The workshop followed an impactful dialogue during the 'GCC Knowledge Exchange Workshop,' hosted by the United Arab Emirates on June 17 and 18. The event convened policymakers and experts from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the World Bank to discuss strategies for enhancing women's economic empowerment across the region. It included in-depth discussions on legal structures, objective job evaluation tools, and fair compensation mechanisms to drive equitable workplaces.
The 'Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value' workshop, held on June 19, served as a platform for exploring various aspects related to this principle. Through a series of interactive sessions, participants examined legal and institutional frameworks, job evaluation methodologies, and effective mechanisms for identifying and addressing gender pay gaps.
H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, highlighted the UAE's pioneering efforts in legislation for equal pay. She emphasized the importance of the principle of pay equity in achieving inclusive and sustainable progress, pointing out the need for collaboration between public and private sectors.
Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, noted the significance of the workshop in promoting gender pay equity through innovation and global knowledge sharing. She highlighted the UAE's leading position in various global gender equality indices as a testament to the country's dedication to gender balance.
Mouza Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council, reiterated the importance of gender balance as a core pillar of the national vision, emphasizing the ongoing commitment required across all sectors to achieve gender pay equity.
Iva Hamel, the World Bank's Resident Representative to the UAE and Kingdom of Bahrain, underscored the World Bank's commitment to providing necessary tools and guidance for implementing pay equity in collaboration with the UAE Gender Balance Council.
Key public sector stakeholders, including the UAE Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, attended the workshop alongside a broad spectrum of private sector leaders.