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KABUL: The World Bank’s survey shows that the Afghan private sector has been affected as the economic activities were damaged by political crisis triggered after the August collapse.
The survey was conducted from October-November 2021, the World Bank said in a report.
“The majority of surveyed businesses reported a drastic decline in consumer demand for their products and services and have been forced to scale back operations, reduce investments, and lay off employees,” the report said.
The survey shows that the small business have been hit harder with 38 percent of surveyed small firms having temporarily shut down, as compared to 25 percent of medium firms and 35 percent of large firms.
According to the survey, Afghan women have been more vulnerable to the negative impacts of the fractured political state in the country as 42 percent of women who owned firms had temporarily closed their business, “closed compared to 26 percent of firms owned by men.”
The report underscored that 82 percent of firms that participated in the survey reported a decline in demand.
Surveyed businesses of all sizes and sectors have cut jobs, laying off more than half of their employees, on average.
The survey also highlighted a massive reduction in jobs as businesses of all sizes and sectors have cut jobs, laying off more than half of their employees, on average.
“Women employees in surveyed businesses faced more severe job losses than men employees – overall, three-quarters of women workers were laid off from surveyed firms since August 2021.”
The survey also highlighted an increase in security improvement following the cessation of active fighting in the cities, “whereas two-thirds of women-owned firms felt that security had deteriorated.”
