Afghan women's employment drops – ILO

International Labour Organization (ILO) on Wednesday reported that Afghan women employment had decreased by 16 per cent after the Taliban took power.

ILO, a specialised UN agency, said in its published assessment that "women's employment decreased by an estimated 16 per cent in the third quarter 2021, relative to a hypothetical scenario with no change in administration.

"In the absence of any substantial policy shift, female employment losses are expected to increase to 21 per cent by mid-2022,'' the document read.

ILO said over 500,000 jobs were lost in the third quarter of 2021 and the number could reach more than 900,000 by mid-2022.

"The deepening economic crisis has been particularly devastating for critical sectors of the Afghan economy, including agriculture, public administration, social services and construction, with thousands of workers losing their job or not receiving wages.''

In the middle of 2021, the Taliban led a major offensive in Afghanistan during the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country and took over in August.

In September, the Taliban established an interim government.

Since the Taliban takeover, Afghan women have been protesting in several cities in the country, demanding their rights be respected and representation in the government and local authorities.