The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The Taliban’s Ministry of Finance has stopped paying salaries to female government employees who have been barred from working since the group returned to power, sources told The Kabul Tribune.
The sources said the ministry has informed the women that no
further salaries will be paid and that only their pay for the month of Jadi
will be deposited. The Taliban are also planning to dismiss the women and
replace them with a male member of their families, according to the sources.
After retaking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban banned
women from working in ministries and other government offices, forcing
thousands of female employees to remain at home.
Previously, the Taliban paid these women a monthly stipend
of 5,000 Afghanis.
The women were formally employed by the government, and some
held specialized, technical and professional positions, the sources said. The
complete cutoff of their salaries is expected to leave many facing severe
economic hardship.
Several of the affected women said they are the primary
breadwinners for their families. Although the payments were small, they said,
the money helped cover basic living expenses.
The Taliban have not publicly commented on the decision to
halt salary payments to homebound female government workers.
