Unemployment continues to haunt Badakhshan

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): Deep-rooted corruption and greater say of influential in affairs of government institutions force large number of Badakhshan youth to travel abroad mainly to neighboring countries for work.

Details issued by Union of Afghanistan Youth (UAY) shows around 120,000 youth throughout the country were unemployed and a number of them had left the country for foreign countries.

According some members of Wolesi Jirga, lawmakers, provincial council members and influential succeeded to induct their relatives into key government positions trampling merit criteria.

Wahidullah, a graduate of literature and humanitarian studies from Badakhshan University, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Senior government officials and former warlords got their near and dear ones employed on government posts the province.”

He said relation was among priority when it comes to be hired by any government institution. Wahidullah said he submitted application for a job in information and cultural affairs three months back but did not hear back so far.

Ahmad Bilash, a graduate of Journalism faculty from Kabul University, said he was jobless since five years. “I have applied for every government posts but unable to secure a job,” he lamented.

Ahmad Bilash recalled once he passed the written test for fourth grade post at National Radio Television in Badakhshan, but the hiring authority ignored my bachelor degree and preferred to hire a 12^th class graduate.

Sher Ali Qasami, information and cultural affairs director, confirmed interference by influential in hiring and firing. He said seven posts were announced three months earlier for which 50 applications had been received.

However, due to influence by some individuals open competition among applicants was not allowed and the individuals wanted to hire selective persons. 

Zamir Khan, who completed journalism faculty, has referred to several government departments, but he was even not shortlisted for an interview.

He applied for a post at human resources department of Badakhshan election commission office but could not be shortlisted.

During the runoff presidential election, when the IEC was recruiting observers to monitor the process, Azizi said he also participated at the examination process for the purpose. After release of results, his name appeared among the failed candidates, he complained.

He said of securing 90 scores after referring to relevant office and seeing his examination papers.

Unemployment issue reached at its peak while the passport department of Badakhshan police headquarters distributed 4,229 copies of passport in 2013, with 90 percent of them were youth.

The passport department head, Col. Azizullah Hafizi, said these youth traveled to Iran, Tajikistan, Turkey and other countries for getting jobs.

He confirmed many youth referred to obtaining passport to his department this year as well.

Dr. Javed, who completed medical faculty at Kabul University, said he was unable to get a job for over the past two years. But now he planned to go to neighboring Tajikistan.

Abdul Qayyum, a resident of Faizabad City, said: “My 25 years old son went to Iran for getting a job last year and since then I have no knowledge of his well-being.”

He said his son has been graduated from literature faculty, but widespread corruption, warlords and poor merit policy forced him to visit Iran along with his other friends.

Serving an employee at a government department, Abdul Qayyum said: “My salary is 8,000 afghanis and we are eight family members.”

Mohammad Wasil who holds BA from Sharai Law faculty of Kabul University, said he has been seeking job since three years.  He complained he visited many state-run departments and schools, but failed to get any job.

Mohammad Sharif Mubariz, independent administrative reforms and civil service commission office chief, said: “I reject involvement of warlords in hiring of employees, compromises and meddling of others.”

Presently, he said more than 6,000 persons have been graduated from higher and semi-higher education institutions in Badakhshan, while 12 school teachers had been recruited this year.

According to Mubariz, more than 70 persons being applied to a vacant post announced in any department.

Badakhshan work and social affairs director, Junaidullah Aini, said there was a mechanism in offices where people can defend their rights through legal ways.

Provincial Independent Human Rights Commission (IHRC) director, Sayyed Mohammad Qasim Sadat said: “We have evidences that a student was deprived from passing to get higher education. Because his exam marks were cut by an officer that resulted the case to refer to judicial court.”

But Sadat added the ground for some poor men from remote areas of Badakhshan province was not open to resolve their problems through judicial courts as some powerful individuals take their rights and give it to others.

Those who do not have friends in offices or those who are poor cannot be deployed to a job and it was even impossible for them to find one, Sadat said, adding the ministry of higher education should train university students about how they could find a job opportunity.

Talking about graduate youth flying out of the country for jobs, he said some students were heading for foreign countries because they could not be hired locally for any professional position due to lack of experience.

Some youths who travel to Iran but cannot find jobs addicted to drugs and turn back to their country.

“The government is responsible for such a situation because it has failed during the past 12 years to provide job opportunities for youths,” Sadat added.

Workers National Association said currently 16 million of people are eligible for jobs, but only three million of them are deployed while the rest of them are jobless or they work as day laborers.

But ministry of labour and social affairs said the number of jobless individuals were about four millions. The statistics about the unemployed individuals are not correct.

Afghanistan Industries Association (AIA) also said unemployment was a worse problem among youth. AIA asked urgent support of the government in this regard.

Mohammad Zia Azizi, International Organization Manager of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), said the new president of Afghanistan should support industrialists as it would help bolster the country economy as well lessen joblessness among people.

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