Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM
Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM
Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM
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Employment ofAfghans with DisabilityRates, Types, Barriers, Income from WorkSECTION5After the long period of conflict, the economic structures and mechanisms have to be rebuilt <strong>in</strong> <strong>Afghanistan</strong>.Industry is almost non-existent, agriculture represents the largest sector for activity and services havebeen <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g at a fast pace s<strong>in</strong>ce the last four years, at least <strong>in</strong> urban areas. Despite efforts made <strong>in</strong> thefield, very little is known regard<strong>in</strong>g the labour market situation <strong>in</strong> <strong>Afghanistan</strong>. To what extent do personswith disability have access to <strong>in</strong>come generat<strong>in</strong>g work? What are the specificities of work for Afghans withdisability? What is the proportion of persons <strong>in</strong> the formal and <strong>in</strong>formal sectors? What are the ma<strong>in</strong> challengesthat lie ahead <strong>in</strong> order to improve work<strong>in</strong>g conditions?Before answer<strong>in</strong>g these questions, it is necessary to evaluate the level of employment, both of non-disabledand persons with disability. Unemployment is considered as the situation of a person without an <strong>in</strong>comegenerat<strong>in</strong>g activity, effectively look<strong>in</strong>g for a job and ready to take it immediately if an opportunity occurs.However, such a view would exclude a large number of persons who do work:• In large areas of the country, women are not allowed to work <strong>in</strong> the field and are limited to householdtasks. If we <strong>in</strong>clude women who take care of household chores and consider them as unemployed,then the unemployment rate is of 45.8% among the 15-64 age group. Only 2.4% of Afghan women,aged 15-64, are <strong>in</strong> fact look<strong>in</strong>g for a job. The reality is more complex than this b<strong>in</strong>ary view. Some ofthe women are associated with a small job provid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>come alongside the ma<strong>in</strong> activity of householdchores. Some also contribute to tasks like work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the field and attend<strong>in</strong>g to livestock.• Another difficulty <strong>in</strong> def<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g employment rates relates to the complexity of the land ownership systemand the diversity of status of people work<strong>in</strong>g on this land: landowners, mortgagers, tenants who sharethe crops, simple labourers (Kargar), etc. Beyond this complexity of the land system <strong>in</strong> rural areas, theownership of land/house/property by a member of the household, rema<strong>in</strong>s reliable benchmarks forstay<strong>in</strong>g out of poverty 33 .• Lastly, a number of services and work are not paid on a strictly monetary basis, or at regular <strong>in</strong>tervals.This makes assessment of <strong>in</strong>come from a given activity extremely difficult.Lack of employment is a major barrier to personal autonomy and f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>dependence, especially forpersons with disability who are at high risk of lifetime dependency on others. Employment also br<strong>in</strong>gs an<strong>in</strong>creased value and respect with<strong>in</strong> the family, as contributors and not a burden, consequently improv<strong>in</strong>gtheir social image and status. Identify<strong>in</strong>g difference of employment situation and strategies and the l<strong>in</strong>k withdifferent k<strong>in</strong>ds of disabilities can help to identify <strong>in</strong>equalities. This <strong>in</strong>formation, <strong>in</strong> turn, can be of help to def<strong>in</strong>edevelopment of programmes and employment policy.Lack ofemployment isa major barrierto personalautonomyand f<strong>in</strong>ancial<strong>in</strong>dependence,especially forpersons withdisability whoare at highrisk of lifetimedependency onothersRate of EmploymentTo what extent are persons with disability employed <strong>in</strong> <strong>Afghanistan</strong>? Measur<strong>in</strong>g the level of employmentshows that active people represent 21.5% of the whole population and 41.4% if we consider the populationaged 15 to 64, which corresponds to <strong>in</strong>ternational standards. People <strong>in</strong> charge of household tasks, essentiallywomen aged between 15 and 64, represent 43.3% of the population of active age (above 15 years old).This means that the <strong>in</strong>clusion or exclusion of women <strong>in</strong> charge of household tasks will strongly weigh uponthe rate of unemployment.33See ALDEN W. L. (2004); op. cit.