JAWZJAN, Afghanistan — In the northern province of Jawzjan, many women are turning to carpet weaving as a means of survival amid deepening economic hardship and limited access to education.
These women say that despite enduring grueling hours of work, they receive meager wages for their labor. For weaving one meter of carpet, they earn only 1,000 to 1,500 afghanis (roughly $12 to $18).
Zarmeena, 35, is one such carpet weaver in the city of Sheberghan. She works in a weaving workshop alongside about 50 other women. A mother of eight, Zarmeena said she is compelled to work long hours every day to provide for her family.
“Carpet weaving is extremely hard work,” she said. “We work for hours, but our wages are very low.”
The women in Jawzjan are calling for more employment opportunities and better support for their industry. Parveen, another resident of Jawzjan, said, “If we receive support and the market for carpets improves, we could have better lives.”
In addition to weaving carpets, some of the women in the workshop also make rugs. However, the earnings from this work are even less. For weaving one meter of a rug, they earn between 250 and 300 afghanis (about $3 to $4), an amount they say is insufficient to support their families.
Carpet and rug weaving is a common occupation for many women in northern Afghanistan, particularly in rural areas. Yet despite their efforts, the income remains low, and their labor often goes unrecognized.
Maryam, the manager of the weaving workshop, emphasized the challenging conditions these women face. “The women work under very difficult circumstances,” she said. “If they receive assistance and access to proper markets for selling their carpets, their lives could change significantly.”
The carpet-weaving women of Jawzjan remain hopeful that with support from aid organizations and the creation of more stable job opportunities, their economic struggles can be alleviated, allowing them to build better futures for themselves and their families.
