Just a day before when hundreds of Afghans were celebrating the International Labor Day, 16 people lost their lives in a tragic incident in a coal mine in Darre Yousuf district of Samangan province. The reason behind is said to be high level of Methane case. The incident took place due to substandard mining and inconsideration of due caution.
The reported incident took place in a coal mine which is controlled by a local powerful guy. Based on statements of police as well as ministry of mining and industries, previously the mine was sealed down and its owner agreed to stop extraction. So, ostensibly, he without caring about law resumed extraction from the mine located on his land.
Though, all the mines and other underground natural resources belong to government but due to lack of law enforcement, warlords and powerful guys have been engaged in seizing them. After the incident, local officials confirmed that there are more than hundred coal mines which are under the control of warlords and other influential individuals. The mine where the incident took place was also one of those controlled by local influential guy. It shows that even in the safe provinces, government lacks authority to enforce law.
Based on reports, previously efforts made to seal down those mines extracted illegally but soon after warlords resumed extraction. perhaps, one of the key problem during past few years having the so-called the strategy of attack, dealing blows to enemies and then retreating back. Particular districts in restive provinces often exchanged between government and Taliban. For years, Afghan and NATO security forces were pushing militants out of the particular areas and then retreating back to safe headquarters. After the withdrawal, militants once again were coming and keeping the area under the control. Though the 2009 military surge strategy of President Obama changed the play on the ground---Afghans soldiers took the responsibility to maintain control over areas from where militants were forced out--- but the coal mine incident that control of government even in safe provinces also so fragile. Based on statements of a local official, security forces closed down mines which were illegally extracted but soon after the operation they were reopened by influential guys. The incident reflects that government still is unable to protect its own property. Warlords do not have equipment or facilities otherwise they might have started oil extraction or other natural resources.
However, there is no realistic figure about areas under the control of warlords but certainly there are still large groups some of which are in contact with high profile officials parading around without caring about rule of law. During past years, both government and foreign countries had a kind of non-messing approach. Nor they made any move to itch the back of government and neither government mess up with them. Hence, either side preferred to remain calm and do not interfere to each other’s business. Busy fighting with militants, government preferred stays away from them and rather to some extent help them to fight with armed opposition fighting Afghan and foreign security forces.
Anyhow, very soon this relation may not continue without interruption. In order to strengthen the pillars of its authority, Kabul must face them willingly. The warlords and other influential individuals should give up their traditional power. They must fight against government or simply and surrender. However, it is not clear when government will decide to face them with clenched fist but seemingly their power will continue for coming years as Kabul prefers to in a kind of informal truce. Therefore, individuals like that of owner of coal mine in Darre Yousuf will continue grasping public properties.
Secondly, the over condition of employment is grave and estimated deteriorate further. Presently, thousands of students graduated from domestic and foreign educational institutions join the club of job-searchers. Due to low literacy level, individuals having professional skills and good academic background should be attracted to by the employment market easily. But thousands of students with bachelor degrees search for more than a year for job but still fail to get one.
The situation is even worse for manual labors. Getting out of the home early, every face with huge number of manual labors who gather squares of cities and looking forward for some to recruit them as daily labor. Believe it or not when, they feel that someone needs a worker, they rush and surround him. During the International Labor Day, several TV and Radio channels directly interviewed daily workers who sometimes stay for more than a week on a square to get only a day job. But every night goes back home without money while his family members are waiting for a loaf of bread.
Many were complaining that presently thousands of daily workers poured from neighboring country and working on variety of spheres while hundreds of thousands of Afghans are unemployed. Similar there are thousands of foreign workers who are really not very professional while Afghans with bachelor and Master Degrees are unemployed.
Thus, along with other serious efforts that government should hold for increase of employment inside the country and also developing close relation with the rest of countries for delivering labors, it must control the flow of foreign employees. There are foreign employees who paid thousands of dollars per month meanwhile do not accomplish the responsibilities assigned to them. Thus, labor laws related to spheres where we have abundance should be much restricted for foreign employees.