Lhakpa Quendren
Gelephu—As Bhutan embarks on the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project, the construction industry is gearing up with extensive training nationwide, equipping contractors with essential skills to enhance local capacity.
The Construction Association of Bhutan (CAB), that is organising these trainings, aims to prepare local construction companies to play a crucial role in this transformative project envisioned by His Majesty the King.
According to the CAB’s executive director, Sonam Wangchuk, these training sessions are small steps toward a broader vision. “With significant construction activities outlined in the 13th Plan, including the GMC and several foreign direct investment projects, we are preparing our contractors for these opportunities,” he said.
A key focus of the training is enhancing health and safety standards on construction sites by fostering a culture of occupational health and safety at the workplace. This includes mandatory safety practices and ensuring contractors understand the importance of integrity in construction activities.
“A new requirement is that contractors must secure an integrity vetting certificate from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to qualify for public contracts,” Sonam Wangchuk said.
The CAB formalised its commitment to reducing corruption with a Memorandum of Understanding with the ACC.
“Our aim is to minimise corruption in the construction sector and demonstrate the discipline of our contractors,” the executive director said.
The owner of Phuentsho Construction based in Samtse, Thinley Tobgay, said that adhering to safety standards is crucial for the well-being of the workers. “I am now planning to build a separate house to store safety gear for the workers, making it more convenient for them to wear it at the workplace,” he said.
A contractor revealed that safety gears are often used only when inspectors from the labour department visit construction sites. “We need a cultural shift towards prioritising worker safety,” he said.
Between 2022 and 2024, the construction sector recorded seven fatalities and 12 injuries—making it one of the major sectors with such a high record of workplace fatalities.
With the GMC positioning Bhutan as a global investment destination, the construction industry aims to support infrastructure development as part of this ambition. “Construction companies are eager to engage in subcontracting, if not major activities associated with the GMC,” the CAB executive director said.
Thinley Tobgay said that the opportunity to participate in the GMC project will not only provide employment opportunities and promote sustainability but also enhance skills within the sector. “However, I wonder if our current skills will meet the requirements of such a large project.”
The training course covers critical areas such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and a range of occupational health and safety practices. Participants also learn about occupational hazards, risk control hierarchies, general workplace housekeeping, scaffolding and ladder safety, construction safety, risk management, and machinery safety, among others.
The training, which has seen participation of 160 contractors from Paro, Phuentsholing, and Gelephu, is expected to continue in Samdrupjongkhar with about 40 additional participants. Gelephu recorded the highest number of participants at 72.
Post-pandemic, small and medium-sized construction companies have been struggling, with many of their machinery remaining idle. These companies are also not able to meet financial requirements to participate in public tenders.