Taliban Reduces Government Salaries of Afghan Women

The Afghan Ministry of Finance announced on Monday that the Taliban authorities have reduced the salaries of female government employees who have been forced to stay home since the Taliban took power, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

After the Taliban ousted the foreign-backed government in 2021, the new regime barred most women working in the public sector from attending their offices while continuing to pay their salaries. However, this has now changed.

Ahmad Wali Haqmal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, stated that women who remain at home and do not go to the office will now receive 5,000 Afghanis (about $70) per month.

Women who are permitted to work in isolated areas such as government hospitals or schools will continue to receive their full salaries based on their positions.

Previously, women in the public sector earned up to around 35,000 Afghanis, including university professors who were forced to leave their campuses.

Administrative roles in ministries previously paid about 20,000 Afghanis, with many salaries reduced to around 15,000 Afghanis after the Taliban takeover.

Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have enforced strict policies, particularly targeting women.

The United Nations has condemned these policies, describing them as gender discrimination and segregation.

The Taliban have closed secondary schools and universities to women, as well as parks, gyms, and public baths.

A 25-year-old woman, who requested anonymity for security reasons and works in the Department of Media and Culture outside Kabul since early 2021, expressed her distress over the situation.

She explained that being forced to stay home is already a significant issue, contributing to severe psychological stress.

The salary reduction has exacerbated these challenges. She uses her salary to support her seven family members, including her ill mother, but the reduced amount barely covers two weeks of expenses.

The salary cuts will take effect in July and are expected to impact tens of thousands of women in the public sector, according to the Ministry of Finance spokesperson.