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

issue. Furthermore, the Cabinet has frequently discussed this issue and in its
144 th session drew up a Chathrim for the recruitment of expatriate workers,
which was ratified in the 72 nd session of the National Assembly. In addition, this
issue is also frequently discussed at the meetings of the CCM and the Planning
Commission. The Minister responded to the Assembly that the staff of the
Immigration and Census Department has been strictly implementing the
instructions of the National Assembly, Cabinet and Departments. At the same
time it is most important that particularly the manufacturing industries, shops,
private sector contractors and those undertaking private residential buildings
should make every effort to employ Bhutanese nationals, offering wages and
benefits similar to the rate applied for the National Workforce.
A is fully appreciated and in line with the Government’s policy. The people,
businesses and private agencies are making every effort to reduce expatriate
recruitment and employ national workers in the projects and contract works.
However, the supply of national workers is not reliable. He expressed that if the
Chathrim for the recruitment of expatriate workers is followed strictly, problems
can be averted as workers cannot be brought in until all the formalities of
screening and work permits are completed. Agencies such as Dantak, which
employs large number of workers, should also be required to process for permits
and give first priority to the recruitment of national workers. While the private
sector is in need of skilled labour, the Bhutanese available for employment do
not have the relevant skills and experience. So there is a situation where there
are inadequate number of workers with relevant skills on the one hand and on
the other, shortage of employment opportunities for workers without skills.
Therefore, it has become imperative that a training center specially geared
towards the skills and manpower requirement of the private sector is
established.
The Chimi also pointed out that the 100% upward revision of wage rate by the
Royal Government is limited to the wages for workers in the public sector and
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