Women working in Drayangs in Thimphu say many male-customers are sexually harassing them.
They say the customers force them to sit with them and touch them without their consent. Of the 160 working in Drayangs, 90 percent are women.
They work four days a week from 5-11 PM.
One of the employees said some men even try to forcefully seek sexual favours from them
Even the mothers working in Drayangs are not spared. “We ask them Nu 300 for the request of a song by a customer. They say they will give us the money only if they are allowed to touch our body,” said one of the mothers working in a Drayang.
She said sometimes, they inform Drayangs’ owners.
A Drayang owner, Namgay Dorji says sexual harassment does take place in Drayangs but not every day.
Drayang owners have formed a Tshogpa to combat such issues. Namgay said almost every issue brought to them has been solved.
“I am not saying we don’t get support from the government. We get help from RENEW, NCWC, and agencies linked to Drayangs. But when there are issues, it is the owners who are confronted. There is no helpline or any other number to contact the agencies”
Namgay Dorji said on several occasions they have sought out men who sexually harassed their employee and asked them to compensate the victim.
If the draying owners are unable to take action, they go to police, according to the women.
However, one of the women said the police refuse to take action saying, ‘nothing has been done to them.’
One time, they had taken up a case with the police and the police, she said, had refused to register the case saying no marks were found on their body.
The police say the complainant should be identified while filing a case. They say the case cannot be filed between the police and accused.
However, the women say, the police, when they come to investigate, call out loudly, in front of everyone, for the complainant. They say it is embarrassing and frightening.
The police also said it is the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe working environment and the employees must report to the employer when customers harass them. They said the case will be registered if it is filed with the police.
On the other hand, with no one to come to their rescue, the women working under a particular Drayang has formed a group. They say they lookout for each other.
The women also say there has been a decrease of sexual harassment after they formed the group.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women and Children is currently working for establishment of Helpline to help Women and Children.
