The General Women’s Union (GWU) today announced the launch of the world’s first official employment programme dedicated to Productive Families, offering a fixed monthly salary and comprehensive job benefits. This pioneering initiative aligns with the long-term “Mother of the Nation’s 50:50 Vision,” extending to 2075, which aims to enhance the role of women and empower them both economically and socially.
The announcement was made during the second edition of the “Creatives Path Programme,” which commenced today in Al Ain City.
This initiative represents a tangible implementation of the “50:50” vision launched by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation,” Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation. The vision seeks to increase the participation of Emirati women across all fields of national development.
Under the new programme, Productive Families are officially granted employee status with a monthly salary, in addition to a share of net profits generated from products delivered to the GWU’s Centre for Traditional Industries and Handicrafts.
Women participating in the programme will also be registered with the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund, ensuring insurance coverage and a secure future.
Participants are required to produce and deliver a set number of products each week according to established standards, without being bound by fixed working hours or on-site attendance—offering full flexibility in line with the nature of family-based and creative work.
Noura Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the GWU, said that the launch of the world’s first official employment model for Productive Families reflects the deep confidence of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in the capabilities of Emirati women and embodies her ongoing directives to support their economic and social empowerment.
“This initiative does not only offer a stable source of income to families,” Al Suwaidi said, “but it also opens new pathways for institutional and sustainable contributions to the national economy.”
Eng. Ghalia Ali Al Mannai, Head of the Strategic and Development Affairs at the GWU, added that the new employment mechanism provides Productive Families with a flexible work structure from within their homes, while ensuring full professional and legal protections, including pension registration.
“Allocating a share of profits further strengthens motivation and enhances product quality,” Al Mannai noted, “which is essential for the sustainability and competitiveness of traditional crafts in the market.”
The launch of this employment model marks a significant shift in supporting the home-based and creative economy, institutionalising the integration of Productive Families into the national economic framework under a socially protective and strategically guided system.
The event also serves as a national platform for promoting Emirati innovation and expanding sustainable employment opportunities, aligning with the UAE’s strategic goals to empower women and strengthen their role in the creative economy.
During the exhibition, new opportunities under the Creatives Path Programme were unveiled, aimed at supporting Emirati job seekers in the cultural and creative sectors. These include employment and training placements in the private sector, in collaboration with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis).
(Inputs from WAM)
