BANGKOK ( Associated Press) – More than half a million people have lost their jobs in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in mid-August, the International Labor Organization said in a report released Wednesday.
The ILO said the crisis has crippled the economy and slammed the labor market. The situation is particularly devastating for women and those working in agriculture, government positions, social services and construction, with many losing their jobs or receiving wages.
Thousands of Afghans flee the country, so many companies work hard to keep afloat Everyday. The report by the ILO, a United Nations agency working to promote labor standards and good work for all people, said 700,000-900,000 jobs are expected to be lost by June as work becomes more scarce.
The economic fallout from the acquisition has been huge, with cash crunches and limits on bank withdrawals, leaving both companies and individuals struggling.
After four decades of war, severe drought and pandemic, the economy was already in shambles. After the Taliban seized power amid the chaotic withdrawal of US and NATO troops, the international community froze Afghanistan’s assets abroad and halted all funding, reluctant to work with the Taliban government, 20 years ago Gave his reputation for cruelty during his previous rule.
“The situation in Afghanistan is critical and requires immediate support for stabilization and recovery,” Ramin Behzad, the ILO’s senior coordinator for Afghanistan, said in a statement.
“While the priority is to meet urgent humanitarian needs, sustainable and inclusive recovery will depend on people and communities who have access to decent jobs, livelihoods and basic services,” he said.
Women had one in five jobs in Afghanistan in 2020, but are now being barred from working in some sectors. Education for girls has also been limited, although Taliban leaders have said that It is expected that after the end of March all schools for girls across the country will be able to open.
ILO report is latest call for more international support for Afghan people, as UN warns 8.7 million Afghans are on the verge of starvation.
Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to fund a $5 billion humanitarian appeal, release Afghanistan’s frozen wealth and ramp up its banking system to prevent economic and social collapse.
The ILO report estimates that female employment declined by 16% in July-September, compared to what the Taliban would not have taken over. The decline was 5% for men, it said.
While a serious difficulty, which suggests that most women who were employed, still have jobs, work at airports, customs, health and education are in many other places.
rights of women The international presence in Afghanistan had improved markedly over the two decades, but is seen as a threat with the return of the Taliban, whose pre-1990 regimes saw them almost besieged.
The deteriorating employment situation could lead to higher use of child labor in a country where more than one million children aged 5-17 are working, the ILO report said.
Many children are not in school or working – according to a survey conducted in 2019-2020 only four out of 10 were going to school.
The report said UN agencies are working with Afghan companies and trade unions to provide critical support and maintain community services.
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