The Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs & Disabled (MoLSAMD) on Thursday reported that the ongoing electoral stalemate and unemployment have led to a recession in the job market, making many businessmen flee the country.
According to the Deputy Minister Hisamuddin Hamrah, poverty and joblessness were around 16 percent in the beginning of the year, but has doubled following the electoral deadlock and political tensions.
“The electoral impasse has further increased unemployment,” Hamrah explained. “In recent months, many jobless people have consulted our ministry. As you are aware, we are a policy making institution, but we are aware that unemployment has increased in the past six months."
Meanwhile, Afghanistan Industrialists Association (AIA) has said that corruption in the government institutions has recently witnessed a dramatic increase.
Industrialists have complained that the MoLSAMD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) are delaying the processing of their documents, making them regret their decision to invest in the country.
“We are tired of all these issues,” head of AIA Sherbaz Kaminzada said. “Many businessmen flee the country. Many factories have terminated their operations in the past six months; our trainees have left too. We have invested money and don't know what to do now.”
MoLSAMD has admitted that there are many problems in the government institutions.
“You are aware that the visa issue and the issue of laborers are not just our responsibility. Many institutions, mainly MoFA, Ministry of Interior Affairs, and Afghanistan Investment Supporting Agency are involved," Deputy Minister Hamrah added. "But we have always made our utmost efforts to settle the issues."
Based on the AIA statistics, 300 factories—out of the total 1,800 factories—have halted their productions in the past six months.