Some of the muster roll employees have worked with Thimphu Thromde for more than 20 years, but they are yet to be regularised.
What it means to be muster roll employees is that they are generally categorized as national workforce, which means they are not eligible for retirement benefits or other allowances among others.
The Thromde has more than 200 muster roll staff employed as road workers, gardeners and water meter readers.
One of the muster roll employees of Thimphu Thromde, who did not want to be named, said they have been pushing for regularisation, but has not been able to convince the Thromde management.
“If we are regularised, we will get retirement benefits. Life is uncertain and we never know what will happen. So, retirement benefits will be helpful to my children if anything happens to me,” one of the muster roll employees, said.
“We have raised the matter many a times and requested the Thromde to regularise us. We are becoming old and worry over the future of our children,” another employee said.
Thrompon Kinlay Dorjee said many of the muster roll employees landed with the Thromde after the Department of Roads (DoR) handed over roads in the city to the Thromde.
“When they came to us in 2011, there weren’t any documents with them. There was no record of when and how they got employed. Therefore, it is difficult for us to give retirement benefits,” the Thrompon said.
He said the Thromde is planning to employ hardworking employees on contract. He added muster roll employees are paid as per the wage rate of the labour ministry.
However, labour ministry officials said employees are entitled for benefits if they have worked with the employer for more than a year.
