In a continued move to marginalize women in the workforce, the Taliban has reduced the salaries of female teachers instructing above the sixth grade to 5,000 Afghanis ($70) per month, effective immediately. This represents nearly a 50 percent reduction in their monthly wages.
This decision was communicated via a letter sent to the teachers earlier this week, sources informed Amu.
Sources provided Amu with a copy of the letter, indicating that starting from the current month of Asad in the Hijri calendar, which began on Monday, July 22, female teachers at public schools teaching above the sixth grade will receive a monthly salary of only 5,000 Afghanis, equivalent to approximately $70.
This salary cut comes on the heels of the Taliban’s nearly three-year-long ban on education for girls above the sixth grade, a policy that has deprived more than 1.1 million girls of schooling, according to United Nations statistics.
In a previous letter released earlier in June by the Taliban-run Ministry of Finance, it was announced that all benefits and salaries for female employees unable to report to work would be reduced to 5,000 Afghanis starting from Jauza 14 (June 4). However, female employees permitted to continue their work would still receive their regular salaries.
Before this reduction, female employees and teachers earned approximately 10,000 Afghanis, about $140. Some female teachers and employees have expressed to Amu that this salary reduction will further exacerbate their already challenging living conditions.
