5.6.3 Does your university as a body have a maternity policy that support women’s participation?

Al Maarefa University has a maternity policy that aligns with Saudi Arabia’s labor laws and additionally offers support to female employees during maternity leave. According to Saudi labor law, female employees are entitled to 10 weeks of paid maternity leave, which includes six weeks after birth and four weeks before.

In addition to adhering to this legal requirement, Al Maarefa University provides a supportive workplace for returning mothers. The university encourages flexible working arrangements and offers a welcoming environment for female employees balancing career and family responsibilities, ensuring women’s continued participation in the workforce.

This approach underscores the university’s commitment to gender equity and work-life balance, fostering an environment that supports women in both their professional and personal lives.

Labor Law

PART IX EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN

Article (149):

Taking into consideration the provisions of Article (1) of this Law, women shall work in all fields suitable to their nature. It is prohibited to employ women in hazardous jobs or industries. The Minister, pursuant to a decision by him, shall determine the professions and jobs that are deemed detrimental to health and likely to expose women to specific risks; in such cases, women’s employment shall be prohibited or restricted under certain terms.

Article (150):

Women may not work during a period of night the duration of which is not less than eleven consecutive hours, except in cases determined pursuant to a decision by the Minister.

Article (151):

A female worker shall be entitled to a maternity leave for the four weeks immediately preceding the expected date of delivery and the subsequent six weeks. The probable date of delivery shall be determined by the physician of the firm or pursuant to a medical report.

Article (152):

During the maternity leave, an employer shall pay the female worker half her wage if she has been in his service for one year or more, and a full wage if she has served for three years or more as of the date of commencement of such leave. A female worker shall not be paid any wages during her regular annual leave if she has enjoyed in the same year a maternity leave with full wage. She shall be paid half her wage during the annual leave if she has enjoyed in the same year a maternity leave at half wage.

Article (153):

An employer shall provide medical care for female workers during pregnancy and delivery.

Article (154):

When a female worker returns to work following a maternity leave, she shall be entitled, in addition to the rest periods granted to all workers, to a rest period or periods not exceeding in aggregate one hour a day for nursing her infant.

Maternity/Paternity Leave in Saudi Arabia
https://www.globalization-partners.com/globalpedia/saudi-arabia-employer-of-record/

Female employees are generally entitled to 10 weeks of paid maternity leave, up to four weeks may be taken before the birth and at least six of the weeks must be taken after. During this leave, the employee is entitled to half pay if she has been employed for at least one year, and full pay if she has been employed for at least three years from the commencement date of the leave. However, if a female employee takes her annual vacation during the same year as her maternity leave, she will only be entitled during that vacation to half pay or to no pay, depending on whether she received half pay or full pay during her maternity leave. Medical expenses related to pregnancy and delivery must be paid by the employer.

Article 152

https://beoe.gov.pk/files/legal-framework/labor-laws/Saudi-Labour-Law.pdf

During the maternity leave, an employer shall pay the female worker half her wage if

she has been in his service for one year or more, and a full wage if she has served for

three years or more as of the date of commencement of such leave. A female worker

shall not be paid any wages during her regular annual leave if she has enjoyed in the

same year a maternity leave with full wage. She shall be paid half her wage during the

annual leave if she has enjoyed in the same year a maternity leave at half wage.

Article 155

https://beoe.gov.pk/files/legal-framework/labor-laws/Saudi-Labour-Law.pdf

Article 155 An employer may not terminate the employment of a female worker or give her a warning of the same while on maternity leave.

Giving birth to a sick child

https://laboreducation.hrsd.gov.sa/en/labor-education/286

In the event of giving birth to a sick child or a person with a disability, whose his health condition requires continuous accompaniment, such a female worker shall be entitled to one-month leave fully paid starting after the end of the maternity leave period, and shall be entitled to extend the leave for one-month unpaid leave.

Medical Care for Pregnancy and Childbirth

https://laboreducation.hrsd.gov.sa/en/labor-education/287

The employer shall provide medical care to the working woman during pregnancy and childbirth.
When a working woman returns to her work after maternity leave, she shall have the right to take, with the intention of breastfeeding her newborn, a period or periods of rest that do not total more than one hour per day, in addition to the rest periods granted to all workers, and this period or periods shall be calculated from the actual working hours, and not It results in a wage reduction.

Promote equality between men and women in access to free on campus health services

Kingdom’s laws related to the health field ensure that women are entitled to have access to health care. There is no restriction on exercising this right. This right is also given to all women residing in the Kingdom through the cooperative health insurance system and other related laws.

Almaarefa university provide free on campus clinic covers basic healthcare equipped with appropriate physicians and equipment, also, the clinic physicians can refer students to the area government and private healthcare facilities for further care. The clinic carried out a number of programs and mechanisms aimed at raising the level of women’s health, including:

Health education programs for the prevention of anemia and iron deficiency, which are implemented on a regular basis in schools, shopping malls and waiting rooms at health facilities;
Pregnancy and motherhood education program;
Early detection of breast cancer.
Awareness-raising programs for balanced health nutrition.