It will be like 'Utopia'- but then again...

When Jinan al Madfai first heard that she could possibly retire at the age of 35, her first reaction was: "Wow, that would be Utopia!"

When Jinan al Madfai first heard that she could possibly retire at the age of 35, her first reaction was: "Wow, that would be like Utopia!"

Ms al Madfai, 25, was reacting to the Federal National Council's proposal to allow women to retire after 15 years of service in the public sector, with no minimum age limit.

But after truly absorbing what this policy - which offers a monthly pension equivalent to one level higher than the last salary level - would mean to women, Ms al Madfai had a change of heart. Only those who were not keeping their jobs as a means to an end would choose to continue their careers, she said.

"What's your incentive to work if you can stay at home and earn the same money, if not more?" she said.

An Emirati who works in the public sector, Ms al Madfai said that such a policy may prevent women from gaining the expertise they would need to grow in their careers.

"Most people who hold managerial positions have 20 or 30 years of experience. If you're only required to work 15 years, then how can you reach that level?

"Women won't be motivated to grow," she said.

"At the same time, a woman may want to demonstrate her best so that she is receiving the highest salary possible when she retires," Ms al Madfai said.

Ms al Madfai added that in addition to a salary, work provided an individual with a sense of purpose. "I can understand that this would help those who are raising families, but think about those who are unmarried - you would not be making much use of yourself.

"If this is the case, you must have a plan for later, whether it's establishing your own business or taking up new classes."

With marriage planned in the near future, Ms al Madfai said that while early retirement does intrigue her, it may not be in the best interests of the country. "At a personal level, I would love it. But it won't be the best solution from an economical perspective."

Instead, Ms al Madfai recommended proposing more lenient rules and regulations for working mothers. "After all, it's not only the mother that takes care of her children, the father also plays a role," she said.