Public employees in Afghanistan say unpaid salaries are pushing many into severe financial difficulty as winter temperatures drop and the cost of food and healthcare rises.
Several employees told Amu TV they have not been paid for nearly two months, leaving them struggling to cover basic living expenses.
“The cold is intense and prices have gone up, but we have not received our pay,” said one public employee, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “With reduced salaries and no payments, our economic situation has become critical.”
Employees said wages for the months of Qaws and Jadi (November and December) remain unpaid, despite payroll documents and financial reports having been submitted to the finance ministry by public institutions.
Another worker said Taliban officials had blamed the delay on the end of the fiscal year and promised that arrears would be paid soon. “They told us the money would be released shortly, but nothing has happened,” the employee said. “Many families are under extreme pressure.”
Some workers also said their salaries had previously been cut, compounding the impact of the delays. “First our pay was reduced, now it is not being paid at all,” one employee said. “Food prices are high and we do not know how to manage.”
The Taliban-run finance ministry has previously denied prolonged delays and said salaries would be paid, but employees say those assurances have yet to translate into payments.
Public sector salary delays have occurred before. Last year, payments were approved after several months of delay, a move that drew criticism amid widespread economic hardship.
