Emiratis working part-time in public and private sectors to receive pension coverage

Emiratis holding part-time positions in both the public and private sectors will soon be eligible for pension coverage, as announced by the General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) on Friday. The regulations stipulate that such workers must dedicate between eight and 32 hours per week, or one and four days weekly, to qualify for the scheme, which represents 20 to 80 percent of full-time working hours.

This move aims to align with the changing labor market landscape, accommodating flexible work models such as on-site, remote, and hybrid arrangements. The GPSSA emphasizes that the initiative is designed to foster financial security and stability for all Emirati citizens.

To determine pension benefits, the GPSSA calculates service periods and benefits proportionately, based on the number of hours worked and the approved contribution-calculation salary for the corresponding period. Employers are mandated to register eligible Emirati part-time workers with the GPSSA and update the authority's Maashi platform whenever there is a change from full-time to part-time employment.

Employees seeking enrollment in the part-time pension system can submit a request through their human resources department, enabling their employer to register them. The GPSSA highlights that the extension of social security protection to various employment types will provide Emiratis with greater flexibility in balancing careers with other responsibilities, such as education and family care.

Individuals covered by the pension system are entitled to benefits, including a retirement pension or end-of-service gratuity, a disability pension for medical unfitness, and survivors' pensions for eligible beneficiaries in the event of an insured person's death.