KABUL - A number of provincial labour and social affairs departments’ officials say the posts they hold have been announced to be filled through a competitive exam, bypassing the civil service law.
The officials say the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD) has announced 22 posts under a newly-created program “Capacity Building for Results (CBR)” without considering the civil service law.
The protesting officials add officers on the 22 posts had been appointed through the Independent Administrative Reform & Civil Service Commission (IARCSC) and with president’s orders.
Abdul Ghani, labour and social affairs director for northeastern Badakhshan province, said: “I was appointed four years ago as director of the labour and social affairs through a transparent process.”
He said he had been able to offer good services to the people of Badakhshan during the past four years, but the ministry had now announced his post for competition without considering the civil service employees law.
He said he was qualified for his position based on the ministry’s evaluation, but he did not know why the plan of his replacement was taken. He accused MoLSAMD of discrimination in the employment process.
LSAMD director for Sar-i-Pul province, Abdul Rauf Obaidi, also said the ministry had announced his post to be filled through a competitive exam without evaluating his performance or observing the law of civil service employees.
“Four years ago, I was chosen as the labour and social affairs director for Sar-i-Pul province through an open competition and also passed an IARCSC exam, but I think the ministry officials now want to appoint their own friends and relatives to the positions,” he said.
Labour and social affairs directors of Samangan, Faryab and Jawzjan provinces also alleged illegal attempts were being made to replace them.
However, LSAMD minister Mahmod Baligh denied any discrimination in the employment process and said CBR program was supported by the World Bank, the Ministry of Finance and IARCSC.
“All the ministries are responsible to announce high level positions in the first phase and low level positions on the second, third and so phases,” he said. (Pajhwok)