On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, let us reflect on the plight of Afghan workers and laborers, individuals whose daily concerns transcend the usual matters of working hours, monthly wages, retirement benefits, and health insurance. Instead, their thoughts are preoccupied with the basic sustenance of their children.

Today, we also recall the predicament of workers compelled to abandon their roles on August 15, 2021, through no fault of their own, who now endure relentless hardship, grappling with poverty and starvation.

We acknowledge the struggles of women who, under the directive of an enigmatic leader, remain confined to their homes, battling psychological and emotional distress as they seek a path to liberation.

Furthermore, let us honor the dedication of the older and thousands of retired workers who were waiting to receive their pensions at the end of the year. But they will no longer receive wages for their forty years of labor.

Let us also recognize the workers who, from dawn until dusk, patiently await employment opportunities, only to return home each night without having secured work.

Let us acknowledge the plight of seasoned and professional officers compelled to operate under the governance of less enlightened leadership.

Let us consider the adversity faced by workers whose labor has contributed to the prosperity of neighboring regions, yet who continue to struggle for their basic livelihood.

Furthermore, let’s reflect on the countless skilled individuals and young talents from Afghanistan, now dispersed across the globe, each holding onto hope for a future that remains uncertain.