As Bhutan marked the 11th Zorig Day today, the Labour and Human Resources Minister, Dorji Wangdi said around seven billion Rupees is being spent as payment of wages to the expatriate workers annually. The minister said it is a wake-up call to make concrete efforts to invest in skills development and increase pool of local skilled professionals.
“With Bhutan’s entry into the modern era, a new class of skilled workers have emerged, who are as essential in today’s society and economy as were the masons, carpenters and smiths in bygone times. We have electricians, plumbers, drivers, pilots, mechanics, computer technicians, metal workers, beauticians and so on and so forth,” said the minister, adding that without them, Bhutan’s economy would collapse.
Lyonpo added that, continuous initiatives are being made by the ministry to achieve skills sufficiency.
The Zorig day is being initiated to raise public awareness and to honour the skilled workers. It is also to promote and build a culture of dignity and respect for the skilled workers and to inspire young people and provide opportunity to showcase their talents through demonstration and skills competition.
As part of the programme, the Lyonpo also launched a website of the National Institute of Zorig Chusum. Celebrating the Zorig day, the winners of the skills completion held last month in Chumey Institute of Civil Engineering were awarded cash prizes and certificates.
The students from the National Institute of Zorig Chusum in Thimphu also took part in skilled demonstration on craving, embroidery, jimzo and painting.
