A Coordination Meeting Held in Balkh Province with the Representatives of Private Sector

The Deputy Minister of Labor Affairs, Alhaj Mawlavi Mohammad Zahid Ahmadzai, met with representatives of private sector in Balkh Province. At the beginning of the meeting, the head of the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Investment, Mohammad Ibrahim Ghazanfar, welcomed the guests and shared information about the chamber’s activities. Mr. Ghazanfar stated that they have provided employment opportunities for many citizens in Balkh Province. He also expressed confidence in the implementation of labor-related legislative documents and the observance of workers’ safety and rights. Furthermore, he called for greater attention to identifying labor market needs, providing technical and vocational training, and reducing taxes on salaries.

After that, the head of the Chamber of Mines and Industries, Imamudin Sanayezada, stated that the members of Chambers of Mines and Industries have created numerous job opportunities through their investment and have provided employment for more than 2000 returnees in related factories, and this process will continue.

During the ceremony, several other Balkh province investors shared their views and ideas, calling for the creation of facilities in issuing work visas for foreign nationals, ensuring electricity supply to factories, starting the distribution of land in industrial parks, simplifying the process of issuing work permits, and addressing other related concerns.

In accordance with the guidance of the Amir-ul-Mu’minin (may Allah protect him), all governmental institutions are obliged to provide facilities and necessary support to the private sector within their respective areas of work, and it is among the government’s top priorities. He added that the private sector, alongside the government, should take strong steps toward the country’s self-reliance and development and strive to create job opportunities for Afghan citizens. The government and private sector should make efforts as possible, to provide job opportunities for returning migrants and to support them. T Labor laws and regulations should resolve the issues faced by employers and workers. The problems of employers and workers should be resolved in accordance with labor laws and regulations. The private sector should hire domestic workers and hire the foreign workers in technical fields; when necessary, domestic workers should be trained in technical fields by their foreign workers. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, in coordination with relevant sectoral institutions creates significant facilities in the process of issuing work visas for foreign nationals. The Deputy Minister of Labor Affairs, Alhaj Mawlavi Mohammad Zahid Ahmadzai added these remarks with representatives of Chamber of Commerce and investors in Balkh province.

In conclusion, the deputy minister of labor affairs has promised that the proposals raised during the meeting would be followed up with the relevant authorities for resolution and that similar meetings would be organized in the future.

It is worth mentioning that during this visit, the head of the ministry’s institute, Sharifullah Sharafat, and the advisor to the Deputy Minister of Labor Affairs, Mawlawi Mohammad Karim Hanafi, were present in this ceremony.