Many foreign workers left for home after the outbreak of COVID-19 bringing most of the construction works across the country to an abrupt halt. Taking advantage of the situation, the government focussed on the unemployed youth. And today, more than 400 youth are working in construction sectors in the country through the Build Bhutan Project. They earn at least Nu 14,000 per month.
22-year-old Sonam Dema is one of the youths affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, she used to work in one of the hotels in Phuentshogling. Today, she works as a painter in absence of Indian workers in one of the construction sites in Changzamtog.
“When I started as a fresher, I didn’t think that I could do it, but after joining I confidently can say that I can do because as a fresher I faced lots of difficulties like physical work is different from other works but with help from my friends, now I am more confident. As a human being if we think positively, yes, we can do it. If others can, why can’t we? As a girl also we should never think that ‘I am a girl, I can’t do this and that,’ We have to have that confidence. Because if boys can, why can’t we?” she said.
Like her, Kuenzang Chofel who graduated from Taktse college decided to work in the construction sector. After his graduation in 2016, it was difficult for him to find a job. Today he works as a tile installer in the Build Bhutan Project.
“People think that if we are to serve our country, we should work in the office, however, if we have passion, we can do it anywhere. And during this pandemic, lots of people are required in the construction site, so this is the right moment to serve my country. And regarding work, if we think that it’s difficult, it will be difficult, however, if we think that we can do it, it’s easy. In the future, I think this will help me a lot,” he said.
Every year more than 50,000 foreign workers are hired and brought in the country. According to the Labour Minister, today there are only about 10,000 foreign workers in the country.
“We are short on foreign workers who usually used to take up this kind of works but now in the absence of that, if Bhutanese workers come forward, work like this, I think this is going to make our country only strong because so many construction works are kept on hold because of the shortage of labour. And once these projects are completed, this is going to have a huge benefit to our economy and to our life as a whole,” said Ugyen Dorji, the Labour Minister.
Build Bhutan Project was launched in July with a budget of more than Nu 1bn to address the shortage of workers in the construction sector.
Pema Seldon Tshering
