KABUL (SW) – The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the de-facto government has reported that 5,254 job opportunities have been created in Afghanistan over the past year.
In a briefing held on Monday, September 9, officials detailed the ministry’s achievements for the year.
Samiullah Ebrahimi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, noted that of these opportunities, 2,254 were facilitated through employment centers, while nearly 3,000 were created through agreements with local and international organizations.
According to Ebrahimi, approximately 75,000 individuals received professional training in collaboration with various institutions based on labor market needs. He further elaborated: “With the cooperation of domestic and international institutions, 74,700 people have completed professional and vocational training. Over the past year, agreements were signed with 68 domestic and international organizations in sectors such as humanitarian aid, child protection, and technical and vocational training, resulting in 6,000 beneficiaries and job opportunities for 3,000 individuals.”
The spokesperson also mentioned that, according to a memorandum of understanding with 15 other ministries, the ministry aims to introduce 1.5 million people to the labor market over the next five years.
Additionally, Ebrahimi reported that more than 122,000 work permits were issued to both Afghan citizens and foreigners during the past year. “In total, 122,136 work permits were distributed. Of these, 118,755 were for Afghans and 3,381 for foreigners. Over 38,000 permits were issued in Kabul, with the remainder distributed across other provinces. Nearly 25,000 permits were allocated for businesses related to women.”
Mohammad Zaher Ahmadzai, Deputy Minister of Labor, stated that the ministry, in collaboration with local and international organizations, provided cash and in-kind assistance to over 802,000 individuals, including women and children, over the past year. “More than 6,000 orphaned children are currently being cared for in ministry-managed centers. There are now 220 networks operating across the country to protect children, which have handled 8,324 child-related cases and provided assistance to over 802,000 impoverished individuals.”
Unemployment has long been a significant social challenge in Afghanistan, leading many to migrate to other countries. However, officials from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs emphasize their ongoing efforts to address this issue through collaborative initiatives.
