MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Young people in northern Faryab province criticize national and international non-governmental organizations for not hiring local educated youth who are struggling with joblessness and are forced to leave the country.
Nasrullah Altaf, one of the educated youth in Faryab, said people who had connections or relatives among officials were given jobs.
He claimed: “The IMC office, which works in health sector, needed nine employees, we 10 individuals participated in the exam, nine people were hired and only I was rejected because I didn’t know someone in the office.”
Manuchehr Wasim, another youth, said appointments in NGOs were based on nepotism and talent and expertise had no value.
He said he had seen doctors and specialists who applied for vacancies were not shortlisted and instead people who did not deserve the posts were hired.
He said: “Donors give money to NGOs for providing work opportunities and better and high-quality services to the people, but the NGOs think it is their money… they do whatever they want.”
Maulvi Abdul Wakil Faryabi, director of labor and social affairs, acknowledged the problem and said organizations and institutions had been asked many times to hire people from areas where projects were being implemented.
He added the provincial government was not against the work of people from outside the province and respected policies of organizations and institutions, but these organizations should abide by rules.
Maulvi Amir Mohammad Haqqani, chief of staff at the governor house, said after repeated complaints from educated young people who volunteered for work, a meeting was held with NGOs and it was emphasized that they should hire local educated people.
He added: "Faryab is the common home of all Afghans; No one is against the work of non-Faryab residents, but the local youth and educated people should not remain unemployed, they should be hired in other provinces as well.”
Dr. Khan Mohammad Ahmadzai, IMC head, said they had more than 200 employees in the province, but 85 percent of them belonged to other provinces.
Ahmadzai denied nepotism and corruption in appointments and added: “We give priority to people from local areas, in case there are no experienced professionals in Faryab, we have to hire people from outside the province.”
Engineer Atiqullah Rahimi, head of ‘Mahoo’ office that assists World Food Organization (WFP) said that they started their activities in Faryab province one and a half years ago and due to lack of professional and experienced people in Faryab, they hired staff from other provinces.
According to him, currently out of a total of 337 employees, 50 belong to Faryab though in there is no mention of area limitation in the law of institutions and labor law.
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