KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban-run Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs claims to have issued more than 22,000 work permits to Afghan citizens and foreign nationals in the first three months of the current solar year.
Taliban announced that these work permits were granted to both men and women, including foreign nationals. Samaaullah Ebrahimi, a spokesperson for the ministry, stated that over 1,200 women have been employed in government and private institutions using these permits.
According to the ministry, most of these permits were for positions in government institutions, with fewer than 6,100 issued for private sector employment.
“The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has distributed work permits to more than 22,000 Afghan citizens and foreign nationals in the first three quarters of 1403 solar year, meaning these individuals are officially employed in emirate offices, private sectors, and organizations,” Ebrahimi said.
However, many people across various provinces criticize the lack of job opportunities under Taliban rule, saying that unemployment has increased and work opportunities have diminished.
A resident of Farah, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed frustration: “We are living, but there is no work, no business, no life, and no support. I am tired of life.”
While the ministry claims to have issued work permits to some women, many women argue that Taliban-imposed restrictions have left them jobless.
“Even in private sectors like beauty salons, women’s work has been cut off by the Taliban,” said Sosan Satari, a Kabul resident. “When a woman works in a beauty salon, she is the breadwinner for her family. Now that the salons are closed, she is confined to her home.”
“I want to work like before and support my family,” a resident of Badghis said.
Many women assert that in nearly three years of Taliban rule, they have lost their jobs in both government and private sectors and are now struggling with severe economic hardship.
