For the Bhutanese working diaspora in Kuwait, wage-related problems are an ongoing struggle. More than a dozen people working in local companies have recently come forward reporting non-payment and delays in monthly salaries and overtime allowances. The Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship said wage issues are the most common problems shared by overseas workers during their monitoring visits.
More than 9,200 Bhutanese have been sent to Kuwait through the overseas employment programme since 2013. Although the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship has not received any formal complaints regarding delayed salaries, some Bhutanese workers told BBS that they often face delayed salary payments, and non-payment of overtime allowances and promised incentives.
One of the Bhutanese workers in Kuwait said, “Our salaries are often delayed, with repeated promises that they will be paid the next day or after a week. At times, this leads to quarrels, as we remind them that we have daily expenses to meet and money to send back home. Despite this, the payments continue to be postponed.”
Another said,“I came to Kuwait in 2019. Initially, there were no issues with salary payments, but over time I began experiencing delays. Currently, I have not received my salary for the past two and a half months. I have not formally raised this issue yet. While Bhutanese workers employed in international and large companies generally receive their salaries on time, I believe that Bhutanese working in small and local companies are more likely facing delays in salary payments.”
Similarly, a Bhutanese worker in Kuwait said, “We think of coming back to Bhutan when we do not get our salaries on time. But we have to complete our contract term. And we hand over our passports when we join the job which they do not give back.”
In earlier cases which were reported to the Bhutanese Embassy in Kuwait, the companies had cited financial difficulties.
Meanwhile, a few of them have resigned from their companies while others have yet to complete their three-year contract terms.
The department added that Bhutanese workers and overseas employers found violating contract terms are notified, and those who continue non-compliance are barred from future recruitment.
Workers in Kuwait are advised to first report issues to their company HR or the Bhutanese employment agents that placed them.
If the agents cannot resolve the complaint, they need to report the matter to the department, who then intervenes directly with support from the Bhutanese Embassy in Kuwait.
To ensure safe overseas employment, the ministry says it strictly verifies foreign employers, conducts mandatory pre-departure briefings, shares returnee experiences and reintegration support, and runs awareness campaigns against illegal recruitment and trafficking.
The duration of case resolution varies depending on the complexity of the issue, employer responsiveness, and the cooperation of involved parties.
And in cases where issues such as contract violations cannot be resolved, repatriation is facilitated, with employers or the agents covering travel costs and due benefits.
Kinzang Lhadon
