However, women who are working at the company said that compared to the past, their work has de-clined. In the silk manufacturing sector, more than 700 women in the Zindajan district of the province of Herat have established a joint ownership com-pany where they manage the entire production and distribution process for silk garments. But the CEO and workers said the company is facing declining sales.

Most of the female employees support their families financially. Sima Sayee, a 25-year-old employee, said that she has been involved in the company’s silk weaving for around six years.

Sayee said she has a big impact on her family’s fi-nances because of the salary she receives from her work at the company.

However, women who are working at the company said that compared to the past, their work has de-clined. “It’s been a year since our business has not done well because there are no buyers,” said Nooria, a resident of Zindajan district.

“We have been working here for the past six years; it has been wonderful for us and we have earned too,” said Maryam Osmani, another resident of Zin-dajan district. These women who work for the com-pany have expanded the silk industry in the prov-ince of Herat.

The whole silk production process is carried out by these women, from rearing the worm and transform-ing it into a cocoon to processing and coloring the silk, to weaving and creating the completed silk products. “We were denied entry to exhibitions both inside and outside of the country, and everyone who purchased our work has left the nation. Unfortu-nately, nobody is buying our products,” said Maryam Shaikh, CEO of the company.—Tolo News