Growing compliance with daycare-centre law

Since 2006, every ministry, government authority, public establishment and government department has been legally required to provide a daycare centre for employees' children.

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Since 2006, every ministry, government authority, public establishment and government department has been legally required to provide a daycare centre for employees' children.

Dubai Customs led the way in putting the law into practice, opening its nursery in 2009. Others have followed suit, including Abu Dhabi Police, Dubai Police, Dubai Health Authority, Dewa and the ministries of Presidential Affairs, Social Affairs and Education.

"This was a revolutionary strategic move," said Samia Kazi, chief operating officer of Arabian Child, a Dubai-based organisation that supports the development of early childhood education.

"It's natural for implementation to be slow because building awareness takes time, but now we are noticing a paradigm shift as some government organisations have taken the lead by opening childcare centres.

"Local organisations and stakeholders are taking strong action towards preparing the childcare workforce and defining frameworks for achieving high quality."

* Colin Simpson