The National Council’s Chairperson, Sonam Kinga said the government has agreed to their recommendation of bringing foreign workers under the purview of Labour and Immigration laws.
In the National Council today, the Chairperson said they also applaud the support given by DANTAK and IMTRAT to Bhutan.
“But now that we have manpower in our country who are working and can work, it is crucial for us to mainstream the non-uniformed foreign workers. For instance, we had to hire more foreign workers when we did not have enough manpower.”
Monggar’s NC MP, Sonam Wangchuk said as recommended by the National Council during its last session, the project DANTAK and IMTRAT has consented to bring their non-uniformed employees under the purview of Labour and Employment Act 2007 and follow work permit system.
The number of foreign workers has increased to over 50,000 as of August, 2016.
The maximum numbers of foreign workers are in the construction and manufacturing sectors where Bhutanese are not willing to work.
The immigration officials have started issuing work permits to non-uniformed foreign workers of project DANTAK and IMTRAT with effect from first week of September, 2016.