On July 9, 2025, reports from Kabul highlighted a sharp rise in child labor across Afghanistan, driven by widespread poverty and limited job opportunities for adults. Local residents and aid workers in Herat and Kandahar noted that children as young as six are increasingly working in brick kilns, carpet weaving, and street vending to support their families. The collapse of formal education systems and ongoing economic hardship have forced many households to rely on child labor for survival.
UNICEF estimates that over 2 million children in Afghanistan are engaged in labor, with 60% working in hazardous conditions. The Taliban-led government has acknowledged the issue but cited resource constraints as a barrier to implementing social welfare programs. Local NGOs, such as the Afghan Child Protection Network, are distributing food aid and advocating for vocational training to reduce reliance on child labor.
Despite international calls for action, declining foreign aid—down 30% since 2023—has hampered relief efforts. Families in rural areas, where drought has decimated agriculture, face acute food insecurity, pushing more children into work. The situation remains dire, with experts warning that without sustained intervention, the cycle of poverty and child labor will persist.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 10th, 2025
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