Ever since the pandemic struck the country two years ago, the number of Indian loaders in Phuentshogling Thromde kept getting slimmer by the day. Today, only a handful of them are working in the country’s commercial hub. So, to fill in the gaps, more than 50 Bhutanese loaders have come together to provide loading and unloading services of any commercial goods in and around Phuentshogling town.
The loaders officially joined Balay Zhabto Detshen, a registered business agency that deals with loading and unloading services yesterday.
The government’s move to revoke driver-switching mode at Sorchen and transitioning to phase two of the COVID-19 response have brought them renewed hope and opportunities.
They now endeavour to improve their economic conditions.
“I feel that it is an opportunity to earn and support our family. As a driver, if we only depend on our vehicles, we can’t make a living. The increased fuel price and irregular reservations for loading goods hinder us to earn a good income,” said one of the loaders, Namgay.
According to Balay Zhabto Detshen, since loaders have experience working at the mini dry port and the truck parking, they don’t have any issues with the current job.
“I coordinated the loaders for the past two years at Mini Dry Port and truck parking respectively. Since more relaxations came in, there are many young people without work here. We then decided to continue our work in Phuentshogling thromde,” told Sonam Wangchuk, the founder of Balay Zhabto Detshen to BBS news.
With words of encouragement from the founder, some unemployed youth in the town have taken up the loading and unloading works.
“Doesn’t matter if it is an office job or labourers’ work. Any job helps us earn money and support our family. We should never shy off from working. We explained this to young people and they came forward,” added Ugyen Dorji, the co-founder of Balay Zhabto Detshen.
The labour ministry’s Regional Office said the young people willing to toil as loaders to earn income will motivate others to follow suit.
“In this group, most of them are unemployed since they lost their jobs due to the pandemic. When they are upbeat to work as labourers, I feel we are progressing well. Actually, before COVID 19, foreign workers from India did these works. Bhutanese never took up such works,” pointed out Sonam Tenzin, the Regional Director of the labour ministry’s regional office in Phuentshogling.
Balay Zhabto Detshen is working on loading and unloading charges and other means of sharing the dividends with the loaders.
They will provide the services once all these are sorted. Meanwhile, with more relaxations from today, residents in Phuentshogling are optimistic that the country’s economic lifeline will be abuzz with commercial activities.
Sonam Penjor, Phuentshogling
Edited by Pema Lhaden
