Work permits needed in border towns

Jul 28, 2010

Come October and all Bhutanese employers in the border towns will have to get labour permits for any kind of foreign workers’ services.

The Department of Labour says with the enforcement of the Labour and Employment Act, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources has decided to reinforce the work permit system.

The Department of Labour says a hotel in the border town can employ only one cook, wet sweeper or waiter each. Likewise, restaurants can employ only one waiter or a cook each.

Electronic repair and tailoring shops can recruit two workers each and salons can employ two barbers each.

In the same manner bakeries, gold and silversmiths, show repair shop and pharmacies can employ only one worker each.

The arrangement is valid only for two years, after which the policies and regulations on employment of foreign workers will be applied uniformly across the country.

This, the department, says is being done to minimise the number of foreign workers in the country and create more jobs for the locals.