Work should never cost a life, nor health. And yet, across Bhutan, workers especially in high-risk sectors like construction face daily dangers that are all too preventable. Recognizing this, the Department of Labour (DoL) has officially launched the National Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Strategy 2025–2035, marking a transformative leap toward safer and healthier workplaces.
In partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), this 10year strategy is more than just a policy document it’s a roadmap for change.
Why It Matters
Construction alone accounts for 26 percent of workplace accidents in Bhutan. These aren’t just numbers they are people: fathers, mothers, sons, daughters whose lives are often upended or lost because of unsafe conditions. And it’s not just construction. Unsafe working conditions exist across various sectors, often due to poor enforcement, outdated tools, lack of training, and limited awareness.
What’s Changing?
The new strategy is comprehensive, built around five strategic pillars and 19 objectives, including:
- Stronger Enforcement: Laws will be strengthened, inspections will be more frequent, and modern tools from gas detectors to chemical analyzers will be used to detect hazards accurately.
- Smarter Technology: AI tools, drones, mobile apps, and even VR simulations will be employed to enhance monitoring and safety training.
- Health at the Core: Worker wellness will be prioritized through baseline health checks, targeted health interventions (like hearing loss prevention in factories), and workplace health monitoring stations.
- Training and Certification: National accreditation programs will build a workforce of trained safety professionals and empower employers with knowledge and tools to lead safely.
- Worker Participation: OHS will no longer be a top-down affair. Workers will have a voice, from local safety committees to mobile reporting systems.
The Bigger Goal
By 2035, Bhutan aims to:
- Achieve 90% compliance with OHS standards
- Embed a safety culture in 80% of organizations
- Reduce workplace accidents by 10–15%
- Strengthen grassroots reporting and transparency
This strategy isn’t just about safety gear and inspections. It’s about creating a national culture of care where every worker’s health, safety, and dignity are protected as a basic right.
Looking Ahead
Creating safer workplaces isn’t just the government’s job it’s a shared responsibility. From employers investing in safety, to workers embracing training, and communities holding systems accountable everyone has a role to play.
Because at the end of the day, a healthy workforce isn’t just good policy it’s the backbone of a thriving nation.
