KABUL - MPs on Saturday summoned officials from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) and the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Services Commission (IARCSC), regarding the issue of vacant posts in government.
However, the ministers of MoPH and MoE failed to attend and instead sent their deputies to answer questions.
"Ministers have to respond to the MPs, not their deputies. Because we have voted for the ministers, they should respond to us," said Bashardost, an MP.
"Based on the constitution and the principles of parliament's internal duties, participation by deputies instead of ministers is against the law and that should not be ignored," said Ghulam Hussain Nasiri, an MP.
Meanwhile, the director of IARCSC said three months ago more than 25,000 vacant positions existed in government but that has now been reduced to 14,650 vacancies.
"Three months ago, there were 25,000 vacant positions in government departments. But in the past three months, the employment process has been accelerated and that number has been reduced to 14,654 vacancies," said Ahamd Massoud Tokhi, head of IARCSC.
But Sayed Hamidullah, acting minister of the MoE, said that the number of schools that have been closed due to security threats has risen to 1,000.
He said, the closure of schools and 3,800 vacancies at the MoE have created big challenges in terms of education in the country.
"The MoE is facing numerous challenges and recent statistics shows that around 1,000 schools have closed across the country due to insecurity," Hamidullah said.
The officials said to the MPs that the number of vacancies in the government institutions had reduced significantly in the past three months.
"The employment process is in progress in the government institutions. It takes time, but we try to create more job opportunities through employing more applicants," said Nasrin Oryakhil, minister of the MoLSA.
"The employment process is being conducted in the MoPH and soon the vacant positions will be filled," said Ahmad Jan Neem, deputy minister of the MoPH.