Handicap International experience in Afghanistan - CBM

Employment ofAfghans with DisabilityRates, Types, Barriers, Income from WorkSECTION5After the long period of conflict, the economic structures and mechanisms have to be rebuilt in Afghanistan.Industry is almost non-existent, agriculture represents the largest sector for activity and services havebeen increasing at a fast pace since the last four years, at least in urban areas. Despite efforts made in thefield, very little is known regarding the labour market situation in Afghanistan. To what extent do personswith disability have access to income generating work? What are the specificities of work for Afghans withdisability? What is the proportion of persons in the formal and informal sectors? What are the main challengesthat lie ahead in order to improve working conditions?Before answering 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 incomegenerating activity, effectively looking 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 in the field and are limited to householdtasks. If we include 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 in fact looking for a job. The reality is more complex than this binary view. Some ofthe women are associated with a small job providing income alongside the main activity of householdchores. Some also contribute to tasks like working in the field and attending to livestock.• Another difficulty in defining employment rates relates to the complexity of the land ownership systemand the diversity of status of people working on this land: landowners, mortgagers, tenants who sharethe crops, simple labourers (Kargar), etc. Beyond this complexity of the land system in rural areas, theownership of land/house/property by a member of the household, remains reliable benchmarks forstaying out of poverty 33 .• Lastly, a number of services and work are not paid on a strictly monetary basis, or at regular intervals.This makes assessment of income from a given activity extremely difficult.Lack of employment is a major barrier to personal autonomy and financial independence, especially forpersons with disability who are at high risk of lifetime dependency on others. Employment also brings anincreased value and respect within the family, as contributors and not a burden, consequently improvingtheir social image and status. Identifying difference of employment situation and strategies and the link withdifferent kinds of disabilities can help to identify inequalities. This information, in turn, can be of help to definedevelopment of programmes and employment policy.Lack ofemployment isa major barrierto personalautonomyand financialindependence,especially forpersons withdisability whoare at highrisk of lifetimedependency onothersRate of EmploymentTo what extent are persons with disability employed in Afghanistan? Measuring 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 international standards. People in 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 inclusion or exclusion of women in charge of household tasks will strongly weigh uponthe rate of unemployment.33See ALDEN W. L. (2004); op. cit.