To ensure uninterrupted labour permit services, the immigration office and relevant agencies in Phuentshogling have been temporarily relocated to the town’s core area. The move follows repeated traffic disruptions caused by flooding, which have made access to the Workforce Management Centre in Amochhu, where the offices are normally based, difficult.
People have been able to obtain labour permits on time since the offices were relocated to Phuentshogling’s core area.
Earlier this year, frequent roadblocks and flooding made it increasingly difficult for both labourers and labour agents to reach the Workforce Management Centre and complete documentation and permit processing on time.
According to the Phuentshogling Regional Immigration Office, there are around 30 foreign workers recruitment agents in the town. On average, the immigration office and labour agents issue between 200 and 250 work permits each day, including new permits, renewals, redeployments, and transfers.
“It is peak monsoon, and road conditions are unpredictable. One moment the road is motorable, and the next it is blocked. We tried to continue providing services despite the roadblocks, but this is not just about immigration or ROICE. We also had to ensure that foreign workers could process their permits without disruption while keeping their safety in mind, as flooding and roadblocks often forced them to walk through flooded areas,” said Jigme Tenzin, the regional director of the Regional Immigration Office in Phuentshogling.
“It is very difficult to travel to Amochhu where the old office is located due to the monsoon and flooding. Opening of the office here has helped us a lot. There are no issues now,” said Pratap Chandra Das, a worker from India.
“It has become convenient since the offices have been moved here in the NPPF new building in Phuentshogling town. We can process the permits in almost a day without disruption. Before, the process took almost a week,” said Besh Raj Ghalley, the labour coordinator for Zhabtog Labour Agent.
Owner of the Jabab Foreign Worker Agent, Phub Dorji said, “We could not work while the offices were in Amochhu. So, we spoke with the labour and immigration offices about the need for relocation. It has been about a month since we moved here. If not for the roadblocks, it was convenient at Amochhu as well, but after the flooding, we had to take two taxis to reach the offices, one till the flood area and another after that.”
While the relocation has eased commuting challenges, some labour permit agents said operating from the core town has increased their expenses as they have to pay rent for both their offices at the Workforce Management Centre in Amochhu and the temporary offices in the core town area.
However, immigration officials said the relocation was made at the request of the agents, who had agreed to bear the rental costs for both premises.
They added that the arrangement is temporary and the offices will return to the Workforce Management Centre once weather and road conditions improve.
Kinley Dem, Phuentshogling
Edited by Phub Gyem
