KUNDUZ, Afghanistan — Shoe polishers in the northern city of Kunduz say they are facing mounting economic hardships, with many struggling to make ends meet as their daily earnings dwindle.
Several workers expressed concerns over rising unemployment, saying they are now willing to work for as little as 100 Afghanis ($1.50) per day due to a lack of opportunities.
“Our work has slowed down, and we make far less than we did before,” said one shoe polisher.
For many, the situation has become desperate.
“The sky is high, and the ground is hard. Where should we go?” one shoe polisher told Amu news, standing by the roadside, waiting for customers. “I am the sole breadwinner for a family of ten. We are helpless.”
Beyond declining income, rising prices for food and basic necessities have further strained their finances.
“In the past, if we earned 600 to 700 Afghanis, things were relatively affordable. After covering expenses, we could save 200 or 300,” said Burhanuddin, a shoe polisher in Kunduz. “Now, even if we make 1,000 Afghanis, it’s all spent in a single day on food and household expenses.”
Some shoe polishers said their financial situation has deteriorated to the point that they must choose between buying food or medicine for their families.
“There are two or three sick people at home, and I am also unwell,” one worker said. “Should I spend 50 or 100 Afghanis on medicine, or should I buy food for the house?”
The reduction of international humanitarian aid to Afghanistan has only deepened the crisis, they said.
Most shoe polishers earn between 50 and 200 Afghanis ($0.50 to $2.50) per day—an amount they say is barely enough to cover basic living expenses.
Their struggles reflect broader economic hardships facing Afghanistan, where unemployment continues to rise, and even small business opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce.
Economic analysts warn that without significant intervention, conditions will likely deteriorate further, leaving millions of Afghans with limited options for survival.
