The Opposition Leader (OL) wrote to the Prime Minister, today, suggesting the government to retain the workers of the Mini Dry Port (MDP) in Phuentshogling until the pandemic is over or find an alternative source of employment for them. This, according to the OL, is in view of their service to the nation during the most critical period of the pandemic.
Through open bidding, the Revenue and Customs office in Phuentshogling outsourced the work at the MDP to Dhendup Enterprise last month. The enterprise brought in around 100 workers after failing to come to an agreement for the wages with the existing workers at the MDP. The existing workers, who have been working at the MDP since the border closure last year, earn Nu 2,000 on an average every day. The private enterprise will be paying Nu 1,000 a day with free meals and accommodation. According to the private enterprise, the opportunity was given to the previous loaders to work but they somehow denied.
And after testing negative on RT-PCR test for COVID-19, 35 loaders left the MDP yesterday and 75 this afternoon.
According to the Opposition Leader, these workers stepped forward to serve the nation risking their lives amid the pandemic. “The fact that the first community transmission broke out from MDP leading to the first National Lockdown speaks for itself about the grave risks they took. Further, this is the only source of livelihood for them and their families.” The OL calls on the government to “immediately intervene and ensure that those willing are retained till the end of the pandemic or till such time they find an alternative source of employment, and make transparent to the public about the modalities, terms and conditions of outsourcing and the obligations and implications to the Government in future.”
Speaking to BBS yesterday, most of the previous workers were unhappy with the work outsourced to a private enterprise. However, the enterprise says outsourcing to his company will see a reduction of the charges at the MDP by 50 per cent. And according to importers, the reduction in the transhipment charges at MDP will help reduce the price of commodities in the market.
Sonam Penjor
