5.6 Progress Measures
GUST Faculty Maternity Leave Policy
At GUST, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment that prioritizes the well-being of our employees and their families. In accordance with Article 24 of Kuwait’s Labor Law, all female employees are entitled to 70 days of paid maternity leave, which may include up to 30 days before delivery and 40 days after delivery. This leave is granted upon submission of a valid medical certificate, ensuring that mothers receive the necessary time to prepare for childbirth and recover afterward.
Beyond the paid leave period, if medically required, an extra four months of unpaid leave may also be approved to safeguard the health of the mother or newborn, based on supporting medical documentation. Upon returning to work, new mothers are entitled to a one-hour reduction in their daily working hours during the nursing period, reinforcing GUST’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a family-friendly and compassionate workplace.
I. Policy
With reference to the period after the maternity leave, if the return date from a maternity leave for a female faculty member is in the middle of the academic semester period, several options are available at GUST as follows:
i. The female faculty member can work in an admin-support role in the college during the semester (minimum 5 hours per day – 5 days a week). This requires HOD’s and Dean’s approval.
ii. The female faculty member can take a paid leave till the end of the semester, with the obligation to compensate this leave by taking 1 course overload without pay.
iii. The female faculty member can extend her unpaid leave till the end of the semester, maintaining her benefits continuation (e.g. summer payments, annual tickets, seniority, etc.).
Student Maternity Leave Policy
Students are allowed excused absences for certain cases such as: hospital admission, maternity leave, sports leave or death of first-degree relatives. This means the student is allowed make up any missed assessments and submit any delayed work. Absences are also removed for the predefined time period, depending on the type of absence request. Documentation must be provided to the OSC advisor so faculty are notified.
For maternity leave, female students are allowed 2 weeks of absence from classes and can make up any missed course work.
