Dubai, 6 April 2009 (WAM) - Dubai Customs and Dubai Women Establishment celebrated the opening of the first model nursery for working mothers at Dubai government departments.

The nursery has been established according to the best international standards to provide a healthy, secured and educational environment.

The project comes as part of National Child Care Centers initiative that was launched by Shaikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), wife of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The ceremony was attended by Ms. Feryal Tawkul, Executive Director of Human resources Division at Dubai Customs, Maitha Al Shamsi, Managing Director of DWE, Shamsa Saleh Manager of Strategy department at DWE, Shamma Al Mari, Manager of Employees Relations at Dubai Customs and a number of employees from both sides and media correspondents.

The National Child Care Center Project aims at providing ideal nurseries for working mothers at Dubai government departments and organizations using best international standards through implementing the National Child Care Standards.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Ms. Feryal welcomed the attendance affirming that the establishment of the nursery was one of the significant projects at Dubai Customs expressing on behalf of Dubai Customs and its female employees her gratitude's for Shaikha Manal`s leading initiative and interest in woman being a key partner in the development process.

Ms. Feryal thanked DWE for its role in serving the local society in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai on empowering the role of women in the UAE.

"Dubai Customs is delighted to be the first government organization in Dubai to establish an advanced nursery in recognition to the working mothers and seeking to create a business environment that provides social and psychological welfare for the mother while being close to her child. We are confident that the project would favorably affect our female staff performance and constitute an incentive and encouraging factor for female nationals to join Dubai Customs," she said.

"The project comes as part of the creative initiatives Dubai Customs used to launch over the past years with the aim of providing healthy business environment for its employees inciting them to creativity, excellence and enhanced productivity. Its establishment comes as well to translate Customs social and economic role in achieving welfare and prosperity for our precious country", she added.

From her part, Ms. Shamsa Saleh thanked Dubai customs for being the leading government agency in implementing the National Child Care Project and establishes its nursery within a standard period of time, equipped with higher quality facilities providing a healthy environment for the child.

"DWE launched this project to support and enable working mothers at their different workplace in addition to provide new career opportunities for the UAE woman by offering training programmes to qualify them to work at government department nurseries," she said.

She added "DWE seeks to organize series of specialized workshops aiming to educate targeted establishments about importance of child care centers and methods of dealing with them and how they can support UAE female employees at different government departments." "The National Child Care Standards Guide has been produced as to fit with UAE peculiarity and culture and fulfill UAE working woman and her children. The guide contains information relative to licensing requirements and how nurseries can be managed, necessary preparations, educational environment arrangement and methods for applying protective and safety measures as well as educational information on food and health care", she said.

Occupying an area of 350 square meters at Customs main building, the nursery accommodates between 32 and 34 children whose ages range from one month to 4 years old.

Customs working mothers have expressed their felicity over such move, which enable them to focus on professional development underlining their appreciation over Dubai Customs civilized role in supporting sustainable development.

The nursery, which would be managed by a specialized and qualified female team, is featured by its model design based on highest world standards and specifications.

Dubai Customs has provided all necessary requirements including but not limited to toys, educational and recreational aid, health and instructional needs.

All furniture components are made of natural materials friendly to environment in order to maintain children safety.

At the end of the ceremony the media correspondents and guests toured the nursery lauding its equipments, furniture and the scientific, entertainment and educational contents.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.