A growing number of women who were dismissed from public institutions in Herat say they have been forced to turn to informal labor to support their families, amid increasing economic and social pressure.
Once employed in public offices, many of these women are now working in tailoring shops, bakeries and carpet workshops — sectors that offer low pay but few alternatives in a severely restricted job market.
“In the past, I worked for a government department,” said Nargis, a former civil servant who, like several others, asked that only a pseudonym be used for safety reasons. “After I was dismissed, I stayed home for a while. But now, I’ve had to start working in a sewing workshop just to feed my children.”
Taliban, which have increasingly tightened restrictions on women since retaking control of Afghanistan in 2021, have recently accelerated efforts to reduce the number of employees in government institutions, with women disproportionately affected.
Yegana, another former employee, said the loss of her job left her with no income. “Since I was dismissed, I’ve had no formal work. I turned to sewing to survive. Things were much better when I was earning a salary,” she said.
The recent wave of dismissals has affected thousands of employees across the country, including many women who served as the primary breadwinners for their households. While Taliban officials describe the cuts as administrative restructuring, rights advocates say the policy reflects a broader campaign to remove women from public life.
Afghanistan’s economy remains deeply fragile, and job opportunities — particularly for women — have all but disappeared under Taliban rule. Many of those who spoke to reporters expressed fear not only about poverty but about the erasure of women’s professional identities and independence.
