Young men returning to western Afghanistan after working abroad say they are struggling to survive on meager wages, as limited job opportunities and rising unemployment deepen economic hardship.
Several returnees in Farah province said they now earn as little as 100 Afghanis (about $1.40) a day for construction work — a fraction of what they previously made in neighboring Iran.
Qudratullah, who returned from Iran two months ago, said he works long hours for minimal pay but has no alternative.
“We work from morning until evening for 100 Afghanis. Children are paid 50 Afghanis,” he said. “We work 12 hours and still cannot earn enough. I try for a whole month to buy a sack of flour, but even that is not possible.”
He said the mass return of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan has sharply reduced job opportunities in Farah, a border province where many rely on daily labor.
Other workers described a dramatic drop in income compared with their time abroad.
Khalilullah, another returnee, said he previously earning between 1 million and 2 million Iranian tomans (about $1.50 to $3) per day while working in construction in Iran, allowing him to support his family back home.
“Before, things were good. Now it’s very difficult,” he said. “Here, even finding work for 100 Afghanis a day is not guaranteed. If there is no work, we go hungry.”
Mohammad Khaleq, also from Farah, said cross-border work had once been a lifeline.
“In the past, the routes to Iran and Pakistan were open. We could earn a living for our families,” he said. “Now, even finding daily work is difficult.”
Farah’s economy largely depends on agriculture, trade and cross-border labor, with many residents historically seeking work in Iran.
Local sources say thousands of people from the province continue to attempt irregular crossings each month in search of jobs, despite increasing restrictions and deportations.
The struggles of returnees come amid broader economic challenges in Afghanistan, where reduced international funding, limited employment opportunities and ongoing migration pressures have left many families unable to meet basic needs.
