Mechanism for protecting Afghan workers’ rights discussed

KABUL (Pajhwok): Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Mullah Abdul Manan Omari met officials of the Afghan Workers’ Export Association to discuss sending Afghan workers abroad, their current conditions and measures to protect their rights.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Omari met Haji Noorullah Fadwi and his accompanying delegation late on Saturday.

Both sides exchanged views on the process of dispatching Afghan workers to labour-receiving countries, the current conditions of workers overseas, measures to address their problems and ways to safeguard their rights and needs.

The discussion also covered the official introduction of registered labour-export firms to foreign countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the establishment of offices for the Afghan Workers’ Export Association in Qatar and other countries, and several related issues.

Omari urged the association to streamline its operations, create more employment opportunities for Afghans abroad, and report firms that illegally send workers overseas to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).

He noted that the Deputy Minister of Employment Development of the Islamic Republic of Iran is expected to visit Kabul soon and said it would be beneficial to jointly present their demands during the visit.

For his part, Noorullah Fadwi expressed readiness to fully cooperate with the IEA and voiced hope that the association’s concerns would be addressed.

He requested timely renewal of licences for legal operations, stronger facilitation of foreign labour relations, and assurance that the legal process for sending workers abroad would proceed in close coordination with the association.

Both sides emphasised the importance of mutual cooperation and pledged to continue their efforts with full coordination, the statement concluded.

kk/sa