Taliban announced that, under a decree from its leader, the retirement age for employees in certain institutions has been conditionally extended by two years. This decision comes as the Taliban continues to withhold pension payments to former government employees.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, confirmed the decision to Amu TV, stating that those who have reached the retirement age but are still capable of working can now continue their service for an additional two years.
Under the labor laws of the previous government, the retirement age for civil servants was set at 65.
Statistics show that over 148,000 individuals are currently retired, the majority of whom are from civilian government sectors.
According to the Taliban-run Bakhtar News Agency, the decree applies specifically to “teachers in educational institutions and professional, specialized, and technical employees in other government departments.” The decree has been in effect since March 2024.
Retired individuals have previously reported facing severe hardships due to the non-payment of their pensions.
