KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan officials on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to tackling unemployment and used a two-day National Labour Conference in Kabul to ask the international community to lift sanctions on Afghanistan and foster cooperation with the landlocked nation.
The conference, aimed discussing ways to overcome joblessness, commenced on Tuesday in Kabul with Acting Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Mullah Abdul Hanan Omari, addressing the attendees.
Omari said the historic conflicts had a profound effect on Afghan society, severely damaging the infrastructure and ripple effect on the labour market.
Despite what Omari described ‘cruel and senseless’ financial sanctions, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) considered addressing unemployment among its foremost responsibilities and priorities.
Omari briefed the conference participants about numerous public welfare projects underway across various regions and those in progress.
"More than one million individuals are presently employed in government institutions," Omari stated, adding the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs' role was essential n creating job opportunities, safeguarding workers' rights, and establishing improved working conditions nationwide.
Omari said recent amendments to the labour law were designed to resolve significant workplace issues and ensure that worker rights were protected, promising legal recourse for concerns raised.
He also disclosed that a national employment policy had been jointly crafted with 15 emirate agencies and submitted for approval to the IEA Cabinet of Ministers.” “This policy, once implemented, will significantly bolster employment across diverse sectors”.
The minister continued a comprehensive employment strategy for returning Afghan refugees had been formulated, outlining responsibilities for various governmental and non-governmental entities. The policy has been submitted to the IEA leadership for a review.
"The primary objectives of the National Labour Conference include orderly development of the labour market to meet contemporary needs, fostering job creation, and combating nationwide unemployment," Omari affirmed.
The conference underscores Afghanistan's concerted efforts to rejuvenate its economy and social fabric amidst challenging circumstances, urging global support to lift sanctions and promote sustainable development.
Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Maulvi Abdul Kabir said every official of the interim government considered himself responsible for addressing social problems, including unemployment.
The deputy premier said despite economic sanctions and freezing of Afghanistan assets by the US, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) paid attention to removing to employment and security sectors.
He said the interim government also activated highways and transit ports and maintained diplomatic ties with 38 countries of the world.
To reduce unemployment and poverty in Afghanistan, Kabir called on Western countries to lift curbs on the oppressed people of Afghanistan and IEA officials.
Meanwhile, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi said: “We share many things in profit and loss with the world, for instance drugs. Currently, drug addicts need treatment and farmers demand alternative livelihoods, but unfortunately, the international community has not only failed to fulfill its responsibilities in these areas, it also imposed restrictions on the caretaker government.”
He said although Afghanistan was not a greenhouse gas emitter, it remained vulnerable to hazardous effects of climate change.
He added security has been ensured across the country after the IEA takeover.
Muttaqi asked the world and regional countries to take part in reducing unemployment in Afghanistan.
“The interim government has taken necessary measures in this area. Administration corruption has been eliminated. A large number of development projects have been executed, but these efforts should be expanded,” he explained.
Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Mullah Hidayatullah Badri also said currently, about 40,000 people were engaged directly and indirectly in the mining sector.
He added: “We are committed to extracting minerals in a standard and legal manner. We want to export processed materials to foreign countries instead of raw materials in order to provide our countrymen job opportunities.”
In a message, Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund also said poverty and unemployment were main problems of Afghan society, calling them a legacy of the past four and a half decades of conflict and foreign interference.
He asked relevant entities, private sector, aid organizations and foreign representatives to reduce unemployment in Afghanistan in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA).
sa/ kk/ma
GET IN TOUCH
NEWSLETTER
SUGGEST A STORY
PAJHWOK MOBILE APP