No woman employee exists in 9 Ghor districts

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): No female government employee exists in nine districts of central Ghor province amid complaints from graduated girls and women about lack of job opportunities in the province, Pajhwok Afghan News learned on Wednesday.

However, some women are working in state institutions in Ferozkoh, the provincial capital, and Lalwa SarJangal district while hundreds of educated women in the province are unemployed.

A number of civil society activists termed the nonexistence of women employees in nine districts as worrying and added the lack of transparency, insecurity and local traditions remained major obstacles that discouraged women from working in government institutions.

Atefa, a resident of LalWaSarjangal district, said she had graduated from Journalism faculty but she remained unemployed and could find a job at government departments.

She told Pajhwok Afghan News: “I have applied at every government organ in Ghor but has been unable so far to find job because I have no strong reference.”

Atefa added hundreds of other educated girls like her were unemployed and were in search of job.

EnjellaSharifi, a women rights activist in Ghor, said currently hundreds of educated women in Ghor and other province were jobless.

“I know girls and women who are very talented but they are yet to find job in any government institution because they have no reference.”

NooriaAhmadi, another women rights activist, also complained against unemployment of women and said most of educated women in Ghor are unemployed.

“There is no factory where women could work. Some organizations that offer field jobs but such opportunities are difficult due to security issues. Nobody in this situation could dare to travel to the field,” she said.

AneesaGhoiur, a member of the provincial council member, also expressed her concern over the lack of women in government institutions.

Reason behind why women are not present in Ghor government institutions is insecurity and discouragement of their work.

Ghor Governor Office Gender Director said: “Old traditions and Taliban’s threat are serious obstacles due to which women cannot dare to work in government offices.”

“When a girl completes her graduation, their husbands or families stop them from working, government is not supporting women and has adopted a discriminatory policy in their recruitment.”

ZarminaKishtyar, a Women Affairs Department officer, said no woman was working in nine districts of Ghor. She said corruption, local traditions barred women from working in the public sector.

Nh/ma