RoICE ToR

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Regional Offices under the Ministry of Industry Commerce and Employment (RoICE)

1.     Background

With the establishment of Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE), the Regional Offices under the erstwhile MoEA and MoLHR are merged together for effective and efficient delivery of the mandates and services of the Ministry in the region. There are total of six Regional Offices (RO), one each in Thimphu, Phuntsholing, Gelephu. Samdrupjongkhar, Mongar and Trongsa.

2.     Purpose 

The purpose of this TOR is to define the roles and responsibilities of the Regional Offices and its staff and the reporting mechanism /modality with the Headquarter.

3.     Roles and responsibilities 

The roles and responsibilities of the ROs include:

1.     Roles and Responsibilities Business Monitoring and Regulatory Section

a) Monitor and inspect the trade and industry entities, tbusiness practices and to promote fair and ethical trade and industrial practices

b) Monitor and inspect the business activities as per the Acts, Rules and Regulations.

c) Validate the operational status of business entities.

d) Conduct inspection of business entities as per norms to curb the unfair trade and illicit business practices (includes business Fronting, EC & Entertainment establishments).

e) Attend to the consumer grievances.

f) Liaise with other relevant agencies (RBP, RRCO, Thromde, BFDA and others) to constantly monitor business entities and carry out joint inspections.

g) Monitor distribution of POL products to ensure continuous supply and accordingly update the stock and sales of all POL Retail outlets with Department of Trade.

h) Monitor quality of POL products.

i) Review daily/monthly report received from depots and allot release in order to maintain continuous supply of POL products.

j) Attend to general trade related complaints and grievances.

k) Serve as Consumer Advocate and Secretariat to Consumer Dispute Settlement Committee in the region.

l) Guided by or in collaboration with CCAA, carry out regular market surveillance to ensure ethical trade practices and fair competition for the benefit of consumers.

m) Support CCAA  conduct consumer protection  education programs and market research and studies.

n) Support CCAA in investigation of consumer complaints and follow up on administrative actions taken by CCAA.

o) Collect market prices of essential commodities on a regular basis for MPI database hosted by CCAA.

p) Carry out regular monitoring of registered tourist accommodation and tourism infrastructure such as Roadside Amenities, trek routes, etc. at least on a quarterly basis including special monitoring based on complaints.

q) Conduct joint monitoring in consultation with the Department of Tourism.

r)  Maintain proper record of monitoring and submit the monitoring reports on a quarterly basis.

2.     Roles and responsibilities of Business Service Delivery Section

a)  Issuance/ renewal/ duplicate issuance/ changes (ownership, location, scale, establishment name), and cancellation of business license (Trade, Industry, Temporary contract).

b)  Furnish license related data for submission to the Ministry and other agencies like Dzongkhags, ACC, DRC, and NSB as and when required.

c)  Issuance of Environment Clearance (exception for RO Thimphu)

d)  Allocate, issue and monitor POL product quota in the respective regions

e)  Validate the operational status of business entities

f)  Timely collections and deposit of revenue (fees, fines, shed and plot rents, mineral rents and royalty) daily.

g) Facilitate the issuance of Certificate of Origin for the export of goods to countries other than Inida (COTI) and Value Addition Certificate to the mediam and large industries.

h)  Issuance of kerosene wherever required.

i) Issuance of new connection of LPG.

j) Registration of PoL mCoupon for Thimphu and issuance of LPG consumer card for other Dzongkhags under the region

k) Facilitate import and export registration.

l) Collaborate and negotiate with the local leaders both within and across the border to facilitate export and import across the borders smoothly (Only for ROs located in border towns)

m) Facilitate the payment of assessment fee of tourist accommodation and tourist restaurants as per the Tourism Rules and Regulations 2022.

n)Facilitate the distribution of certification to tourist accommodation and tourist restaurants

o) Support the Department of Tourism in dealing with complaints and grievances related to the tourism sector.

p) Facilitate in undertake training needs analysis pertaining to the tourism sector.

q) Serve as focal person for services related to the Department of Tourism

r)  Assist and facilitate applicants in filing online IP applications (once online filing is in place) 

3.     Role and responsibilities of Business Promotion Section

a) Sensitize and advocate on Trade and Industry related Rules and Regulations  to the business entities, their employees  and the general public on their rights and obligations.

b) Advice and guide the business promoters with the preparation of business projects and proposals.

c) Explore and promote new business ideas and untapped resources that adds value to the economy revival  or recovery.

d) Advocate and sensitize the business entities on business ethics and integrity creating enabling market environment .

e) Assist the Ministry with the development of CSI Start up centers and institution of CSI Markets in the regions.

f)  Explore markets for the local producers or RNR produce.

g) Development of the POL related equipment and infrastructures in the POL Retail Outlets and Depots.

h) Maintain quality and standards of the products and services through implementation of weights and measure policies.

i)  Conduct studies, surveys and research on exploring new business opportunities and prospects.

j)  Collaborate and coordinate with relevant sector agencies in the region.

k) Coordinate CSI product pitching programs and assist the evaluation and assessment of CSI annual entrepreneurship awards.

l)  Explore consumption pattern and requirement of additional POL depots in the region.

m) Enhance knowledge-based business through short term training, seminars and workshops.

n) Collaborate with the Department of Tourism on the conduct of sensitization and awareness programs.

o) Support and assist DoMCIIP in carrying out awareness and sensitization programs, and

p) Facilitate in identifying and promoting indigenous arts and crafts, and support craftsmen with market access and linkages 

4.     Roles and responsibilities of the Employment Facilitation Section

a)Provide labour market information and career guidance and counseling services to job seekers;

b)Deliver services as the Employment Service Centre and provide support and facilitation to employers and job seekers.

c)Facilitate registration, referral and placement of jobseekers in various sectors including private and corporate organizations;

d)Collect and compile labour market related and occupational information regarding skills training opportunities, skills forecasts/needs  and job vacancies available under the region;

e)Conduct regional job fairs /GOWA programs to bring together the job seekers and the employers;

f) Organize awareness workshop and discussions with employers, employees, job seekers and training seekers;

g) Coordinate and fecilitate entrepreneurship related activities such as training, startup acceleration and awareness related events and programs.

h) Monitor and maintain updated information on entrepreneurship training graduates, new entrepreneurs/startups, provide targeted support and hand-holding support to startups.

i) Compile and submit employment related updates and reports on a regular basis through the Bhutan Labour Market Information System.

j) Support the conduct of research and evaluation including thematic/tracer studies and program assessments.

5.     Roles and Responsibilities of the Labour Administration Section

a) Educate, inform and advise employers and workers on the content of Labour and Employment Act and its regulations;

b) Help settle disputes that may arise between the employers/managers and employees;

c) Compile and submit reports on these labour disputes settlement to supervisors within a week for further directives, if not resolved;

d) Carry out regular inspections of the licensed enterprises at least once a year and carry out special inspection based on complaints.

e)Conduct follow up inspections on the directives issued to employers or management during the regular inspections and special inspections based on reports received on violations of the provisions of the Labour and Employment Act and its regulations;

f) Report on the outcome of each inspection visit, preparing regular reports on the operation of the labor inspection and labor relations systems;

g) Coordinate and share information with other agencies (government and private) concerning labour inspection and protection;

h) Take measures to reduce occupational diseases through constant monitoring on OHS at workplaces;

i)Implement and enforce OHS rules and regulation and laws governing OHS at work places;

j) Educate and inform workers, employers, relevant government officials, and wider society of the nature and purpose of a labor relations system;

k)Advise workers and employers at enterprise level on labor relations processes;

l) Assist and facilitate the employers in applying for foreign workers;

m)Administer and manage foreign workers employed in the respective region;

n) Inspect and monitor the functions of the Foreign Workers Recruitment Agents in the respective region;

o)Approval of Foreign Workers;

p) Management of Workforce Management Centers (For those regions in the border towns)

4.     Planning

The Policy and Planning Division in collaboration with the Departments will facilitate the annual planning and budgeting exercise for the ROs. The plan and budget of the ROs should be aligned with/to the technical Department’s plan and budget.

5.     Reporting 

The ROs shall follow the following reporting mechanism:

a) For the administrative issues, such as Travel authorization, leave request of RDs, etc. to be directly submitted to Secretary. However, the travel authorization and leave approval of other staff in the RO will be done as usual by the RDs.

b) The ROs through RDs shall submit periodic report on the implementation of programs and activities to the relevant Department Heads, on the activity/program specific to the Department.

c) The ROs shall report all matters related to the labour administration to the DoL except those related to section 48 (appellate) and section 49 (closed category occupation) 

6.     Assessment

a) The assessment of the implementation of the plan and program in the ROs will be coordinated by PPD in collaboration with the Departments.

b)All the staff of the ROs shall be considered as one pool for the purpose of the IWP assessment and moderation exercise.

c) The assessment of IWP and moderation exercise of the RDs will be jointly carried out by Secretary and the Heads of the Departments coordinated by the HRD, as per the prevailing norms of MaX.

d) The assessment of IWP of other staff in the regions will be carried out by the RDs. The HRD shall coordinate the moderation exercise for other staff in the region which will carried out jointly by the RDs and Secretary/CHRO.

7.     Duration

The TOR is effective from July 2023 and will remain in effect until further notice.