KABUL - A new report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) says employment and decent work need to be made priorities in Afghanistan. The organization said the upcoming Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan should emphasize long term employment strategies, support for job and skills creation and dedicated funding from international donors. Download the press release.

These findings were presented at a press conference in Kabul this morning.

“The big problem in Afghanistan is that nearly half the labour force population, or about 48 percent of the labor force, is underemployed in that they work more than eight hours a week but less than 35 hours a week,” said Herve Berger, the Representative of the ILO for Afghanistan. “A key issue is that these people have no social protection.”

The study paints a bleak picture of Afghanistan’s employment situation. Warning that much of the data on unemployment for Afghanistan is weak and controversial, it notes that between 80 to 90 percent of the country’s economy occurs in the informal sector, mainly in agriculture which yields unsteady incomes. The study also notes that for 2010/2011 foreign aid totaled about $15.7 billion, a number roughly equal to the country’s overall GDP. This dependence suggests that as foreign funds recede the fragile economy could suffer from further economic shocks.

Other challenges include a lack of long-term programming and coordination between government ministries and agencies, poor linkages with the labor market in creating sustainable jobs, a lack of financial stability and an unhealthy focus on creating short-term or casual jobs.

“Nearly 77 percent of the working population, about six million people, are what we would call vulnerably employed,” said Berger. “This means that their sources of income are not stable.”

More than just a summary of Afghanistan’s unemployment situation, the report is also a call to action. Speaking to reporters Mr. Berger called for greater coordination and more coherent policies that focus on support for longer term job creation. Mr. Berger also called for more support for the informal economy, making higher education more responsive to manpower needs and tailoring support that supports vulnerable groups. Finally, there is a need for more social dialogue and better labor market information which would help in the creation of informed employment strategies.

The timing of the report is meant to stimulate discussion at the upcoming Tokyo Conference to be held in July 2012 and beyond.

“Ultimately most stakeholders will have to rethink their objectives to pave the way for placing “sustainable employment generation at the forefront of a multi-year, non-politicized economic development and employment generation agenda,” said Mr. Berger.