The government released a notification regarding its decision on the supporting measures and compensation to Drayang owners and its employees. The measures include monetary compensation to the owners and skilling programmes for the employees. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Labour Ministry, and the Finance Ministry released the joint notification yesterday. The government, last week, issued an executive order for the closure of all drayangs in the country.
According to the notification, the owners who have retained their drayang until the issuance of the executive order shall be provided with Nu 1.5 M.
And those who have surrendered their rented space in 2020 shall be provided with Nu 1 M. The Drayang owners who have availed loans from the National CSI Development Bank that the government offered during the pandemic shall have the principal loan amount recovered from the compensation amount. According to the Finance Minister, the compensation amounts were decided in consultation with relevant offices.
“The cottage and small industries department went to the field and consulted with each drayang. They worked out a compensation package as per the report their consultation report,” said the Finance Minister, Namgay Tshering.
Meanwhile, the drayang owners are not happy with the government’s decision. The Drayang Association says the compensation amount is not enough to cover their losses.
“They have mentioned that they will compensate for the rents that we have paid in the past two years. But the rents differ from Nu 50,000 to 150,000. People might think that the government is spending all its money for the drayangs. However, the compensation will be hardly enough to pay the rents. We are not happy with the compensation package,” said Kelzang Phuntsho, the President of Drayang Association.
Meanwhile, the drayang employees will also be provided with various up skilling and skilling programmes. The notification states that drayang owners wishing to take part in other entertainment businesses will also receive government support.
According to the executive order from the Prime Minister, the decision to close the drayangs in the country was reached after a series of reviews and consultations for over a year. The executive order states that women working in drayangs are ‘sexually objectified, subjected to stereotypes’ and looked down on in the communities.
Kelzang Choden
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
