The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) said the absence of skilled workers in the country appears to be having a negative effect on businesses and it is affecting investment in the country. Almost 80 percent of skilled workers are hired from abroad due to the lack of skilled workers, the Chamber of Commerce said. Meanwhile, the Afghan Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD) said that 46 more vocational training centers would be established in the near future. Presently, there are 45 vocational training schools across the country that are providing education to locals in various fields including auto repair, electrical engineering, tailoring, construction, plumbing and computer technology. ACCI says that if government takes steps to formulate comprehensive programs to provide training to locals, Afghans will be eligible for more jobs. “Government must establish training centers to skill workers, because we are facing problems in this field; we are compelled to hire 80 percent of workers from abroad,” said ACCI deputy chief Khan Jan Alokozay.
