Kabul Municipality hires women for cleanliness

KABUL for cleaning roads and streets of the capital — an unprecedented step in the past 15 years that residents hailed as exemplary.

The women expressed satisfaction with the work they do, saying people also welcomed them. Gul Begum, 53, is among the women workers, sweeping roads and streets from 8am to 4pm daily.

Belonging to the Tala Wa Barfak district of northern Baghlan province, she said her husband was old and unable to work. She is happy working with the municipality, a job that has enabled her to earn bread for her 10-member family.

“During my work, I feel like being as man. People may say anything but most of them appreciate my job,” the woman added. She said cleanliness was not a gender-specific duty, asking the public to play their role in keeping the city clean.

Kemia, 45, another worker, said about International Women Day: “It is good that women have a day. But in Afghanistan, the day is celebrated jus for the heck of it. If there is a real will to give women their rights, the municipality should raise our salaries and provide us lunch.”

Bibi Gul 50, joined the cleanliness drive four month ago. A mother of six, she said three of her children had to do hard labour to support the family’s daily expenses.

Ahmad Behzad Ghayasi, head of the municipality’s cleanliness department, confirmed hiring 170 women workers, including 14 for cleanliness. Currently 3,625 women work for the Kabul Municipality.

nh/mud

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