Right of Work

Written by: Hasamuddin Hamdard

In Afghanistan, men have the highest household income, and women participate less in economic activities, but they have still been able to play a significant role in the family economy. AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to Maryam Habib, director of a clothing company. Maryam had participated in an exhibition held in Kabul.

Maryam says about her activities, “I am the owner of a small clothing company and 50 other women are busy at work with me.
We produce clothes and then we sell our products at exhibitions.

This exhibition is organized by the Women's Chamber of Commerce, which operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce, and we have about 4,000-5,000 women indirect business and 2,000 - 3,000 in indirect business. The Women’s Chamber of Commerce is introducing us to the exhibitions we are a member of this chamber and we pay our membership fee.
Women make up half of society.  Almighty Allah has given us the right to work and so has the government.

I have been sewing for forty years, and I officially started working in 2007.

When my father died, my brothers were small and we faced financial problems, I started work and I inherited this profession from my parents and I am interested in my job.

Women make up half of society. If women do not participate in building society, the whole society will be paralyzed and the family economy will be reduced to zero.

My father died at a young age and we had a bad economic situation. We did not have money for my brothers to go to school. When I got permission to work outside the home, our economy changed dramatically. I took my brothers to school and now each of them has a job.”

The story of Bashir:

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Mazar-e-Sharif city of Balkh province.

Bashir tells his story. “I am 30 years old. I am a high school graduate. My father works in a mill and wants me to study. We have a lot of financial problems. I get very upset when I see the sweat on my father's face. As long as my father works, I have to work to help him too, at least we have to make a living.”