The Community for Skilled Workers (C4SW) is beginning to change the construction landscape for Bhutanese skilled workers, helping many who were once unemployed find work. Despite the long-held perception that Bhutanese workers are less capable than the foreign workers, the initiative is steadily challenging that view. Today, C4SW manages nearly 270 project sites and employs more than a thousand workers.
As construction begins in Hejo, Tika Ram Basnet from Samtse carefully carries his pipes and tools to start the day.
The 31-year-old plumber has ten years of hands-on experience, though he has no formal plumbing education. He once struggled to find stable work, moving from one short-term contract to another as a subcontractor. Payments often came late, and the lack of job security made supporting his family difficult.
That changed last year when he joined the Community for Skilled Workers. Today, Tika earns around 35,000 ngultrum a month.
Tika Ram said, “Earlier, I worked as a subcontractor and often faced difficulties because the employer did not pay me on time. I learned about C4SW through a friend, and joining it turned out to be a good decision. Here I can learn new skills from seniors and my friends”
Tika’s experience reflects a broader challenge in Bhutan’s labour market.
Despite growing construction and infrastructure projects, many Bhutanese skilled workers struggle to secure steady employment. Contractors often rely on foreign labour, while local workers face irregular work and limited support. To address this, C4SW was launched last year to connect Bhutanese skilled workers with employers and strengthen confidence in local expertise.
The community now includes 1,080 plumbers and electricians working on nearly 270 projects worth Nu 45 M.
“Since my work depended on tenders, it was not secure. Some days I earned, while other days I incurred losses. My last contract was in Monggar, where I suffered a huge loss and was left with debts to repay. I then came to the capital and heard about the community. With prior experience in the same field, I decided to join, and my situation has improved since,” said Yeshi Nidup, an electrician with C4SW.
While the initiative has created new opportunities, individuals who hire them say there is still room for improvement.
They recommended workers to limit the number of projects and assigning dedicated teams to each site to maintain consistent quality.
“I believe it is important to support them and use their services. If we keep assuming they are incapable, we will never understand their true potential. From my experience, their work is good, while not excellent, it is satisfactory,” said Tashi Tenzin, an owner of Construction Site where C4SW workers work.
“It benefits us to hire them and also the youth to get employed. However, I feel there should be someone to monitor progress and check quality once a project starts. I had no issues with the electrician, but the plumber was unreliable, although he was experienced and good at his work, and he sometimes didn’t show up or respond, which delayed the work,” said another owner of a Construction Site, Tashi Namgyel.
Despite these challenges, the Community for Skilled Workers continues to grow.
“We face challenges, but remain committed to creating opportunities for youth by delivering timely, high-quality work. We have also introduced a one-year warranty, retaining 10 per cent of the total project cost to cover maintenance services when needed by the employer,” said Jamgoen Yeshi, C4SW.
“We are still in need of Nu 20 M as seed money to sustain this project. This will allow us to purchase equipment and tools, as we run out of tools once we use them on a site. It will help us to provide soft loans and help TTI graduates who want to work,” said Nima Dorji from C4SW.
With additional funding and support from the Department of Labour, the initiative hopes to expand its services beyond plumbing and electrical work to include masonry, welding, carpentry, and painting.
For plumbers like Tika Ram Basnet, the opportunity means more than just a steady income. It represents dignity in skilled work and the chance for Bhutanese workers to build the country’s future with their own hands.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Sangay Chezom
