Abu Dhabi's ECA Rolls Out Third Cycle Of Parent-Friendly Label To Support Working Parents

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) has initiated the third cycle of its Parent-friendly Label programme, aligning with the UAE leadership's vision for early childhood development. This initiative, first introduced in 2021, is now open for applications from semi-government, private, and third-sector organisations that have been operational for at least two years within the UAE. The programme aims to recognise and award organisations that implement parent-friendly policies, practices, and culture through a set of 19 criteria.

Sana Mohamed Suhail, Director-General of the ECA, highlighted the programme's objective to support UAE workplaces in becoming more accommodating for parents. This includes understanding family needs, welcoming new parents back to work, providing sufficient parental leave and breastfeeding hours, and fostering a work culture that supports these initiatives. Suhail emphasized that such workplaces play a crucial role in ensuring children have access to optimal care and development opportunities.

The third cycle of the programme seeks to build upon the successes of its predecessors, which have already shown positive impacts on applicants, working parents, their children, and society at large. The previous cycle witnessed applications from 75 organisations across 23 industries, with educational institutions leading at 19%, followed by professional services at 15%, and financial institutions and banks at 8%. The second cycle positively affected over 127,000 employees, including 67,000 parents and 48,000 children aged zero to eight.

Organisations interested in applying for the Parent-friendly Label can do so until 2nd September 2024 without any application fee. The programme offers two tiers of achievement: the first tier (PFL) recognises workplaces that exceed local standards, while the second tier (PFL+) acknowledges those meeting or surpassing global best practices. The label is awarded for two years, with a mid-term review after the first year. An independent judging panel comprising senior leaders from each emirate conducts an impartial evaluation of all applicants.

During the second cycle of the award programme, several organisations were motivated to reevaluate the challenges faced by working parents, leading to significant shifts in workplace culture. In the coming weeks, the ECA plans to highlight organisations that have successfully earned the label by implementing supportive policies and innovative practices.

To further raise awareness about the application process and benefits of participating in the programme, a series of educational webinars is scheduled on 5th and 26th March, 23rd April, 21st May, and 18th June 2024. These webinars aim to provide detailed insights into the criteria and advantages of earning the Parent-friendly Label.

With inputs from WAM