With the easing of several COVID restrictions in the country, life has become much easier. However, for loaders working at the mini dry port in Gelephu, it has affected their livelihood. They claim of earning less as they get fewer consignments for daily transshipment.
Around 50 youths were deployed as loaders at the mini dry port in Gelephu two years ago due to the shortage of labourers amid the pandemic. But today, more than half have left the job for better opportunities.
“Due to the COVID pandemic, most of the essential goods were supposed to be transshipped at the port. But now most of the vehicles directly go to the warehouse for unloading and other purposes. These days we get around Nu 200 to 300 per day,” said Passang Wangchuk, a loader at MDP, Gelephu.
Before the government lifted the restrictions, the loaders transshipped more than five truckloads of goods daily. They earned about Nu 50,000 per month.
But today, most businesses in the district take their consignments directly to the individual warehouse at the new industrial service centre. Only those meant to be transported to other districts such as Trongsa, Zhemgang, Dagana and Tsirang are transshipped at the dry port.
“Our friends started leaving one by one. While a few have left because of personnel issues, most said sustaining with a meagre income from working here is going to be difficult,” added Passang Wangchuk.
To minimise the risk and curtail the outbreak of Covid-19, the country made use of the mini dry ports in the border areas to load and unload goods.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Sonam Pem
