Taliban Launches Program To Send Afghan Workers Abroad
The Taliban on Monday announced the start of a formal process to deploy Afghan workers to foreign countries, a move the group said is aimed at reducing unemployment.
The Taliban on Monday announced the start of a formal process to deploy Afghan workers to foreign countries, a move the group said is aimed at reducing unemployment.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said during a ceremony in Kabul that expanding job opportunities abroad will help alleviate poverty and build economic ties with host nations.
Speaking at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, Baradar called the initiative a “significant step” and urged other countries to follow Qatar’s lead in accepting Afghan labourers. He noted that high unemployment has worsened since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 and the subsequent decline in international aid.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs said registration for work in Qatar has opened in more than 20 provinces across Afghanistan, with positions available in 14 specialised fields. These include electrical engineering, electric vehicle mechanics, bus driving, hotel services, cooking, dairy farming, and sanitation work.
Registration for applicants will begin Tuesday in various provinces. According to officials, the process aims to provide a legal pathway for skilled Afghan workers to be employed abroad.
In a statement, the Taliban said discussions with several countries, including Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Tajikistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Saudi Arabia, are ongoing and close to finalisation for similar labour agreements.
Since the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan has experienced a sharp economic downturn. International organisations have warned of rising poverty and widespread food insecurity affecting millions. The United Nations and humanitarian groups continue to call for urgent support to address the crisis.
