Representatives of nearly 160 private contractors this week gathered outside parliament to complain about the Ministry of Interior’s (MoI) reluctance to pay for work already done. 

Some said they have waited for about two years to be paid and that the total amount outstanding is more than three billion Afghanis.

“We completed the work and now the MoI does not pay us. We complained to parliament and to the president’s office, but no one is listening to us,” said Sayed Jawad, owner of a company.

“When we refer (the problem) to government departments, they say they do not have the budget. If they did not have the budget, why did they get us to do the work? We worked in insecure areas, even some of our workers were killed,” said Haji Nawroz, another company owner. 

Representatives of the companies said they have built and reconstructed military bases, checkpoints, hospitals, airports and prisons, often in very insecure areas, in accordance with the MoI’s requirements. They said they also had signed contracts from the MoI for the work that has been done. 

“We have spent what we had. Everyone, the workers, they come to our houses and ask for their wages,” said Khawja Ghafor, another owner of a company.

MoI meanwhile said they are investigating the issue.

“The complaints will be investigated. It is our responsibility to address the complaints,” said Sediq Seddiqi, spokesman for the MoI.

The owners of these companies have warned if government does not pay them, they will expand their protest.