GPSSA: No gender discrimination in pension distribution under law

Dubai, 29 January 2017:  In a workshop held by Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA), the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) stressed that the federal law No. 7 of 1999 concerning pension and social security, as amended, ensured equal rights for both genders and did not discriminate between males and females in social security benefits and entitlements under the law. In case of distribution of the pension among the eligible heirs, the law contained no discrimination between both sexes, said the GPSSA underlining the fact that the law expands sometimes to give the woman more benefits in matters related to the nature of its leading roles in serving her family and society.      

Attended by Yousuf Behzad, Assistant Director General of People Growth and Strategy, DAFZA, and officials and employees from different departments, the workshop was presented by Mr. Khalifa Al Falasi, GPSSA Director of the Center Operations in Dubai, and Mr. Mohammed Saqer Al Hammadi, GPSSA Head of Customer Happiness Department. The workshop focused on introducing the GPSSA and the rights and obligations of contributors as provided in the pension law. All questions of DAFZA employees were answered.    

We in DAFZA is looking forward to be number one service provider in the area of integrated business and innovative solutions to attract entrepreneurs and leading investors from around the globe, said Mr. Behzad. 'We are committed to our slogan, 'Standard Improvement', as one of key elements of our business environment', he said. 'In addition, we have a clear mission that enables us to give optimal performance. This starts with creating an ideal and motivating work environment to raise awareness among our employees of all matters related to their professional and social life and secure psychological and social stability in the work environment. Employee satisfaction is a top priority for us', he said.           

'We appreciate the GPSSA efforts and the complete explanation of the pension law as well as the social security information it offered to employers and insured employees. This allows for effective and fruitful communication to answer employee questions' said Mr. Behzad. 'We always strive to provide our employees with the best tools that will enable them to become great leaders and help DAFZA with its vision, mission and general objectives'.        

Mr. Khalifa Al Falasi, Director of the Center Operations in Dubai, said that the pension law is equally distributing the pension among the eligible heirs whether the dead employee was a man or woman, indicating that the pension of a female pensioner will be paid to the beneficiaries just as that of a male pensioner.   
If a husband dies, the widow will receive her whole share in the husband pension even if she has a job. The disbursement of this share will be stopped when she gets married again. A son also has a share in his father's pension if he was less than 21 years old. He would continue to receive this pension after completing the said age if he is unable to make a living, is a student until he gets a job, practices a profession, or reaches the age of 28, whichever earlier. A daughter has a share in her father's pension as long as she is not married (divorced - widow - unmarried). Her share will be suspended when she gets married or gets a job. It may be returned back to her if she gets a divorce or becomes a widow provided that she has no other salary or pension and does not get a job.               
This also applies when a wife dies. If the wife receives a pension from the GPSSA or is a beneficiary to pension because of a pensioner's death and has a husband and children, the husband will receive a share if he is unable to make a living and has no salary equal to or above his share in his wife's share. For female or male children, the same rules that are applicable in case of father's death will apply.    

Whether the deceased wife is married or not married, her pension will be treated the same way as the pension of an insured, paying the brothers and sisters their shares if they were dependent on her when she was alive and fulfilled the other eligibility requirements prescribed for the son and the daughter. The father may also be eligible if he was dependent on her. The mother also may be eligible if she is a widow or divorced or her husband is supported by the insured woman while she was alive provided that the mother has had no salary or pension.           

Mr. Mohammed Saqer Al Hammadi, Director of Customer Happiness Department, said that the law has favored the woman in certain matters, taking into consideration the role she plays to serve our society. These include that the law allowed women to purchase 10 years in nominal service periods to raise her pension compared to 5 years only for men, he said. The general rule in the pension law is that the heirs can not combine two pensions or two shares in pensions disbursed by the GPSSA, he said. If any, the beneficiary will receive the higher share, he said. However, the widow is an exception for this rule as the law states that if the pension is received by a widow, she can combine her job salary or pension as an insured employee with the GPSSA and the pension of her husband. This is obviously an exception to the general rules that prohibited the combination between the GPSSA pension and the salary received from any entity inside the UAE and the combination of two GPSSA pensions