More than 300 Bhutanese studying, living and working abroad have registered for the National Reintegration Programme (NRP) under the REVIVE initiative, as of last week. With many yearning to return home,  the programme provides an opportunity for Bhutanese returning home to get integrated  into the local workforce.

Since the exodus of Bhutanese that started a few years ago, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic,  educated and trained free of cost, thousands of Bhutanese left the country looking for better opportunities. Many  found the new place lucrative even if parents were sponsoring with borrowed money and time.

Bhutan couldn’t live up to the expectations of the  people. Jobs were rare or not paying enough to eke out a decent living. The stories of a cleaner in Australia earning more than the Prime Minister of Bhutan, for instance, encouraged, if not misled the educated to leave in droves. The ticket to travel, live, work in developed countries was only education. On the pretext of studying, many found living abroad lucrative.

With changes in policies in the host country, like the age limit in Australia, and many finding it difficult to adjust to living and working abroad, many want to return home. The dilemma was the uncertainty of coming home, especially those who left secure and lucrative government jobs. A good number of those who want to return home are needed badly in the country. We have shortages of teachers, doctors, nurses, technicians and many more. The NRP provides a solution. 

There are critics questioning the government’s move to welcome Bhutanese who resigned and left looking for greener pastures. Some say it is encouraging more to leave. We cannot stop people from leaving or seeking better opportunities. But given the shortage of human resources, created by the mass exodus, it is only right to welcome our people back. The exposure and experience they gained while living or working abroad could be used to improve our system.

Considering the trend of Bhutanese wanting to return home for whatever reasons, our so-called education placement firms should relook at their strategies. Perhaps it is time to look beyond making profits at the cost of Bhutanese. One way could be to explore programmes that could help Bhutanese get skilled in areas that are relevant, respectable, and lucrative. A locksmith in Australia many Bhutanese know, for instance, earns well because it is recognised as a skill and not as a blue collar job.

The rush to Australia started a decade ago. There are not many who made the most of the experience or the exposure. The government has been generous in welcoming our people who want to return and continue working. We cannot stop Bhutanese from exploring opportunities abroad. What we could do is encourage, through policy intervention, programmes, and courses that could arm our people with skills to improve the quality of services they provide and earn a decent living by working in Bhutan.