Recruitment of foreign domestic worker to be studied: National Assembly

Minister of Home and Cul­ture affairs, Lyonpo Sherub Gyeltshen said that a com­mittee comprising of five members from relevant agen­cies have been formed to study the matters regarding the recruitment of foreign domestic workers in respond to Dramedtse-Ngatshang MP. The secretary of labour min­istry is the chairman, while the director of law and order, director general of labour ministry, director of census and the director of immigra­tion department are mem­bers of the committee.

In the question hour ses­sion, Dramedtse-Ngatshang MP, Ugyen Wangdi said that the government has pledged to initiate recruitment of for­eign domestic workers in the 120 days pledges. He ques­tioned on the status of the ini­tiation to the home minister.

Lyonpo said that with changing time and develop­ment of the country, particu­larly at a time when the na­tion is graduating from LDC, recruiting foreign domestic workers are felt as part of the need. He said that one of the challenges especially faced by the working couples in a family is the non-availability of domestic assistance includ­ing babysitters.

He also said that the re­cruitment of foreign workers is not allowed as per Section 10, Labour and Employment Act 2007. However, regarding the particular matter, Lyonpo added that the act lacks a def­inite laws and regulation.

He suggested the assem­bly on having a concrete dos and don’ts, clear laws and reg­ulation taking prior consider­ation about the security of the country while taking initia­tives of recruiting domestic workers from other countries.

Panbang MP, Dorji Wangdi said that the recruitment of foreign domestic workers may threaten the security and sovereignty of the coun­try. He said that about 68,000 foreign workers are already in the country working. He sug­gested on having clear policy that would recruit workers within the country instead of recruiting from outside.

Home minister reiter­ated that the recruitment of foreign workers is a threat through security perspective, yet, the country demands to look into the matter to pacify the problem. He affirmed that the committee is aware of the concerns over security of the country, and they are looking into it.

He also said that the re­cruitment can benefit the people and make their life easier. He clarified that the initiation will provide a mech­anism where the country’s security would not be threat­ened and the matter will be submitted for deliberation when the committee com­pletes the study.

 

By Kinley Wangchuk