On October 31st, a new Law has been announced by President Sheikh Khalifa. This new unprecedented law gives employees the right to read during working hours and exempts reading materials from fees and taxes.
Relevant government bodies in the human resources sector must now provide an employee with enough time during their working hours to read material that concerns his or her line of work. The bodies must also support reading initiatives and provide employees with specialized reading material, whether in print or electronic.
President Sheikh Khalifa said: “Our goal is to prepare generations which work towards excelling and achieving the vision of the UAE, which since its inception has recognised the importance of knowledge, science and culture, and harnessed them in the best interests of the homeland and Emiratis”. The new Law was also announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who described it as “an unprecedented cultural and legislative initiative”.
