Many young people working in Kabul say that after the Taliban returned to power, job insecurity sharply increased within non-governmental organizations. They explain that this insecurity, combined with fewer job opportunities, has placed constant pressure on their lives. Most of them work under temporary contracts and see no clear promise that their jobs will continue. Delayed salaries, sudden dismissals, and the financial dependence of institutions have only deepened their anxiety about work and survival.
In conversations with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, these young people say that the absence of job security forces them to stay in positions they do not like and never planned to keep. Fear of unemployment pushes them to accept tasks that damage their physical and mental health. They also believe that the Taliban’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs ranks among the least effective ministries under the group’s rule.
Alongside the unemployment crisis that has affected more than half of the qualified workforce in Afghanistan, job insecurity has become another daily struggle that workers continue to endure.
Farid is one of hundreds of young people in Kabul who start each workday with fear. He feels this fear because he has no clear contract and no certainty about his future. Each day, he wonders whether he will still have a job by evening or lose it tomorrow because of an abrupt decision by his employer. For him, job insecurity is not only about unemployment. It is also about the constant fear of sudden dismissal, the loss of income, and the heavy impact these worries have on both his work life and his personal life.
Farid says, “Even a small change in the institution’s budget or management could cost me my job. Limited funding and temporary contracts create the main source of job insecurity. In a few months, I will complete one year of work, and I worry that they will not renew my contract. This worry grows stronger as the end of the contract gets closer.” He adds that he has pushed himself beyond his limits to support his family and protect his job.
He continues: “To keep my job, I work more than I can handle. My unstable income and constant insecurity make me anxious about my future, because no one guarantees contract renewal, and job opportunities are scarce and highly competitive.”
Shayista, another young worker in Kabul, says that temporary projects, extra duties beyond job descriptions, sudden salary changes, and delayed or reduced pay have made job insecurity even worse for young people. She says: “Our salaries often arrive late, and no one guarantees that our jobs will continue. My contract lasts until 2029, yet I could still lose my job at any moment. One of my colleagues lost her position when her office faced a financial crisis, and she has now been unemployed for eight months. This reality is deeply worrying.”
Nabila, another young worker in Kabul, says that the Taliban have drastically limited job opportunities for women, making it extremely difficult for them to find work. She explains that even though few women remain in institutions, employers usually dismiss them first, which has intensified her fear.
Nabila says: “The Taliban have placed severe restrictions on women’s work. Women cannot work in many public or private institutions, and even in the few places where they find jobs, job security remains fragile. As a journalist, I face constant risk because contracts are short-term and project-based. Any budget cut could lead to my dismissal. Many media outlets have already laid off staff because of financial shortages, and this trend continues.”
At the same time, several legal experts say that the Taliban’s unfamiliarity with modern labor laws and 21st-century labor rights has created serious challenges for workers in Afghanistan and has made defending workers’ rights increasingly difficult.
Shahla Farid, a legal expert, says: “Under Taliban rule, job insecurity in Afghanistan has become more of a political and security issue than a legal one. The Taliban have damaged job security and placed many people in positions they do not deserve. While some individuals with higher education and doctoral degrees have strong skills and experience, others who studied only up to grades 9 or 12 now hold managerial, deputy minister, or director positions. In such an environment, real job security simply does not exist.”
Job security means feeling confident and stable in keeping one’s job without the constant fear of unemployment or sudden loss of income. It includes stable employment, reliable earnings, and a sense of future protection against economic, organizational, and technological changes. This sense of security plays a vital role in job satisfaction, mental well-being, and motivation.
These complaints about job insecurity come despite earlier statements from officials at the Taliban’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, who claimed they were working to create safer workplaces and address employment challenges. They also said ministry inspectors would provide support for workers in different regions.
However, a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) shows that more than 240 humanitarian projects in Afghanistan were suspended in 2025. This suspension clearly points to a growing wave of unemployment and job insecurity among the country’s youth.
Earlier, the World Bank reported that the unemployment rate in the country had doubled and that one out of every four young people in Afghanistan was unemployed. The report explains that after the Taliban returned to power, families facing economic collapse sent additional members into the labor market to survive, even as demand for labor remained extremely limited.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
جوانان میان بیکاری و ناامنی شغلی؛ زندهگی با ترس زیر سایه طالبا
