23.12.2012 Views

1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

workforce were reduced, the Bhutanese people would be able to acquire the<br />

required skills and experience in the jobs presently being done by outsiders. In<br />

Mongar, the local people carry out 90% of the work and this could be emulated<br />

in the other Dzongkhag. Furthermore, it is with pride and satisfaction one notes<br />

the national capability that has been built up in the renewable natural resources<br />

sector, schools, hospitals and the civil service which proves that the Bhutanese<br />

have the capability to learn and master skills in all areas.<br />

With the increase in the wage rate by order of His Majesty the King, the interest<br />

of the people to work for development activities has been further enhanced and<br />

the 10% of the workforce comprising of expatriates in Mongar can be further<br />

reduced. Furthermore, it would make it possible to achieve the Government’s<br />

policy of enhancing people’s income and increasing productivity and production<br />

levels.<br />

In response, the Home Minister pointed out that as per a report of 30 May 2001,<br />

there are 45,964 registered resident expatriate workers in Bhutan. Another 2000<br />

seasonal permits are given to expatriate workers at the mines in southern Bhutan<br />

during the dry winter months. Furthermore, along the border in the south, 10-<br />

20,000 daily workers come and work in Bhutan without permits during the day<br />

and return to their homes across the border at night.<br />

Therefore, the size of the expatriate workforce in Bhutan today would be<br />

between 50,000 to 60,000 which is equivalent to over 15% of our population<br />

and this, as pointed out by the Gasa Chimi, is an issue that is of grave concern to<br />

all Bhutanese.<br />

The Minister pointed out that the main reason for the recent increase in the<br />

number of expatriate workers in Bhutan is the initiation of the three major<br />

hydropower projects in Tala, Kurichhu and Basochu. Furthermore, with most of<br />

the physical infrastructure and construction activities of various projects now in<br />

full swing, about 50% of the workforce are non-Bhutanese on permanent<br />

167

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!