Tackle gender inequality

More women need to be hired in the government.
The head of Administrative Reform and Civil Services Commission in west zone says 128 women were recruited in government offices since the start of the year. The head Abdul Salam Salam says no woman was recruited in districts where security is an issue.
The largest number of jobs were in Herat. While 80 women were recruited in that province, 12 each found jobs in Badghis and Farah and 8 in Ghor province in grade four and six posts.
The overwhelming majority of government employees are males. Of the 190 posts of presidents, there are only four women in the west zone which comprises Herat, Farah, Ghor and Badghis provinces.
Mostly women only head the presidency of women’s affairs. There are women in posts in the health and education sectors but not as heads. Women’s role in government offices is still “only symbolic”, women’s affairs officials say.
The culture of patriarchy is dominant in government offices. The government has an affirmative action policy for gender equality; women get 5 points on the basis of their gender when they apply for jobs.
Aziza Karimi, acting head of Herat women’s affairs says that low salary, limited employment opportunities and gender discrimination are all factors that have worked against the hiring of women in government jobs.
The women’s affairs department is forming local shuras (councils) to introduce more qualified women to government offices. She suggested that in order to increase the share of women in the government there is need to fight gender discrimination.
Jailiani Farhad, spokesperson for the Herat governor, is satisfied with the number of women on government rolls. Women are 38 percent of presidency and office managers, he says.
However, Fatema Jafari, a member of the Herat provincial council, blames the lack of transparency in recruitment for gender inequality. Senior-level jobs are sold to the highest bidder who is generally a powerful male, she says.
If more women are to be recruited, political interference in the recruitment process must stop.
However, Munira Yusufazad, the speaker of Independent Authority of Local Organs, insists recruitment of government staff is an entirely transparent process. No posts are purchased or sold.