Dissolution of National Retirement System: Pensions for Retirees Still in Limbo

In a directive to military and non-military institutions under their control, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, has ordered that no further deductions be made from the monthly salaries of government employees for retirement benefits. Government employees view this Taliban action as effectively dismantling the retirement system in the country. They argue that upon retirement, they will not receive any benefits. According to the Taliban supreme leader’s directive, deductions from employees’ salaries for retirement benefits have been suspended since the beginning of the fiscal year 1403 (Solar Hijri Calendar). This comes as retirees in the country have not received any benefits over the past three years and complain about their dire living conditions.

For the past three years, the Taliban have not paid the pensions of the country’s retirees. These retirees have demanded their rights, which are based on their service-related entitlements, through protests and numerous letters to the supreme leader of this group, but the Taliban have consistently failed to pay their dues, citing various excuses.

In the latest move, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban supreme leader, has ordered in a directive that deductions from government employees’ monthly salaries for retirement benefits, known as pension shares, should not be made from the beginning of the fiscal year 1403 (Solar Hijri Calendar). This Taliban action has been interpreted by government employees as the dissolution of the retirement system in the country.

In a letter sent to the Ministry of Finance under the control of this group, the Taliban supreme leader has canceled the deduction of retirement funds from the monthly salaries of civil and military employees. He has also instructed subordinate offices to send him the details of all employees in government offices.

Sources within the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance have confirmed the authenticity of this document to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, stating that starting from the month of Hamal (March/April) onward, retirement funds will not be deducted from the monthly salaries of employees. However, the fate of thousands who retired in recent years and haven’t received their dues remains unclear.

Some retirees, speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, remark that while the document does not explicitly mention payment or non-payment of their dues, considering the Taliban’s empty promises over the past three years, it seems their cases have been closed, and hope for their retirement rights has been dashed.

Retirees emphasize their decades of service to the nation under various regimes. Criticizing the Taliban regime for failing to pay their retirement benefits, they argue that their youthful vigor was spent in the service of the homeland. They state that a portion of their monthly earnings was contributed to the government treasury for retirement.

These retirees, in conversation with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, express their distress over not receiving their retirement benefits for three years, grappling with worsening economic conditions and increasing poverty. They insist that the Taliban supreme leader should address the retirees’ issue separately from other government employees.

Mohammad Zarif, one of the retirees in the country, is shocked upon hearing the news of the Taliban’s directive regarding the dissolution of the retirement system. He says, “We’ve sacrificed forty years of our lives for our pensions. Now, in dire economic circumstances, someone should finally consider our plight.”

The retiree adds that the Taliban supreme leader must issue orders regarding them as well so that their rights are paid. He emphasizes, “We’ve served the people, and it’s truly unjust that for three years we’ve been wandering at the gates of every authority to claim our rights. The Taliban supreme leader has addressed one aspect of the issue, that no further deductions be made from government employees’ salaries, but there needs to be a reconsideration for me and thousands of others who have had deductions previously.”

It’s worth mentioning that according to labor law, government employees are entitled to retirement benefits upon completion of their service; however, the Taliban have not paid retirees their entitlements over the past three years. Retirees claim that over the past two years, Taliban officials have repeatedly assured them that a directive from the supreme leader of the group regarding this matter would be issued soon; but now that the Taliban supreme leader has made his position clear, they have also lost hope and are awaiting even tougher days under the shadow of the Taliban regime.

The Taliban supreme leader has dissolved the retirement system in the country amidst controversy over the non-payment of pensions to over a hundred thousand retirees since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, with no clear decision made by this group on the matter.

It is said that around 150,000 retired personnel have been waiting for their monthly retirement benefits over the past three years; however, despite their widespread protests and appeals, the Taliban have taken no action to pay their dues.

The non-payment of retirees’ pensions has become a divisive issue within the Taliban, with a council of the group’s scholars last year sending the issue of paying retired government employees’ pensions for “Sharia legality” to the Taliban’s Council of Ministers for review, and then forwarded to the Taliban supreme leader in Kandahar for a decision; however, there is still no information on this matter.

The exact number of retirees in the country is unclear, but in recent years, the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Finance has stated that around 152,000 individuals from 119 government departments are entitled to retirement benefits.

Last year, the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance announced allocating 4 billion Afghanis for retired employees’ salaries; however, at that time, the Taliban supreme leader did not approve the payment and it is said that this group has put the legality of paying retirement benefits into question.

The Taliban supreme leader’s directive to dissolve the retirement system in the country has sparked reactions from numerous citizens and political activists. According to them, halting the payment of retirees is contrary to all ethical and governmental norms.

Abdullah Khenjani, a former advisor to the previous government’s Ministry of Peace Affairs, responded to this Taliban directive on his X (formerly Twitter) page, stating that the Taliban lack even the simplest understanding of ethical and legal governance. He wrote, “If a group seizes government privilege and assets, it must also be accountable for its debts and financial responsibilities. Halting retirees’ rights is not only contrary to ethical and governmental norms but is a clear divide and boundary between the Taliban and everything beyond the Taliban.”

Mr. Khenjani added, “The Taliban see governance only as a means to score points and exploit the people. Stopping retirement benefits closes the last economic, psychological, and geographical window for a generation that has spent its life for the land and this land is now unwilling to pay back.”