About 100 former employees – technicians and support staff – of the Mangdechhu Hydro Electric Plant (MHEP) in Trongsa are dissatisfied with the Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC). The Corporation deployed some of its employees on deputation at the Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited (KHEL) in Trashi Yangtse.
The former employees claimed that the vacancies were not floated following the open competitive recruitment process, although the authority concerned and the government promised to do so.
Requesting anonymity, one of them said, “Even the Prime Minister and a minister promised to give us priority while employing people for the Kholongchhu Project.”
“To give opportunities to those already employed and ignore people like us is unfair”, another added.
They said that they have remained unemployed after their contract with the MHEP expired two years ago.
“Our expertise is in the hydropower sector. So we had to wait.”
The DGPC denied the claims. The Corporation said the vacancies were floated in Kuensel, the national newspaper. But they were for the senior officer level posts.
Over an email interview with the BBS, the office said, “Presently, the DGPC has 47 employees on deputation to Kholongchhu. These employees were sent to initiate the project activities, and many hold key positions, such as the engineers in charge of the major construction work packages.”
Further, the response stated, “The understanding between the DGPC and the Kholongchhu Project is that the DGPC will depute officers at senior levels who will hold the critical positions through the internal selection process or open selection process.”
However, the office said that no major construction activities for the project have started as of now.
“The project would require almost 500 officers and support staff at its peak of construction activities.” Accordingly, the vacancies would be announced.
“The Kholongchhu Project intends to maximize Bhutanese participation in construction as well as through employment,” the DGPC added.
Passang, Trongsa
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
