Unemployment Promises: 3.3 to 2.5 %

2.5 percent unemployment rate achievable: PM

23 January, 2011 - With the kind of progress made in employment of Bhutanese, the government is optimistic to bring down the unemployment rate to 2.5 percent by the end of 2012.
The prime minister Jigmi Y Thinley said this during the third quarterly review of accelerating Bhutan’s socio economic development (ABSD) on January 20 in Thimphu.

“It seems to me that at this rate, the target of ensuring the goal of an economy that doesn’t have an unemployment rate exceeding 2.5 percent will be achieved,” the prime minister said.

The labour and human resources ministry had in October last year, signed an understanding with the leading construction company Larsen and Toubro to train Bhutanese workers for hydropower projects.

Thirty-four technical graduates are already trained in construction from L&T in Kolkota and Mumbai with another 60 currently undergoing training.

Labour and human resources minister Dorji Wangdi said they are optimist that this would help bring down the unemployment rate from 3.3 percent today.

Technical graduates who are mostly class 10 drop outs would be trained in masonry, carpentry, plumbing and mechanical operation.

In next three months the company will again train about 100 technical graduates in construction and 40 in electrical section.

Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi said the reason for such initiative was to have national skilled work force for hydropower projects in the country. He said with 10 projects already on, these skilled workers could work in hydropower projects until 2025.

“It is important we train Bhutanese from now so that companies can employ them in hydropower projects,” the minister said. “Once a project completes, the ministry will make sure that most of them are employed in another.”

The only challenge, the minister mentioned was the limited number of applicants willing to take up in-country trainings. “The number increases when the training is outside,” he said.

Another similar agreement with Hindustan Construction Company and Gammon India is also under process.

Impressed with the labour ministry’s achievement, Lyonchhoen said the ministry has created 600 jobs against its target of 500 for 2010.

“A good number of them trained outside are able to find employment if they wished outside as well,” Lyonchhoen said. “This creates prospects of Bhutanese earning and working in various firms, industries outside the country and return home with the kind of skills to contribute to the development of our own economy.”

By Yangchen C Rinzin
Kuensel