𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

…𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒋𝒐𝒃 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆
𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕

By Leki Chungdon

The abrupt shutdown of a youth-led food truck in Thimphu by the Dzongkhag Administration has left three entrepreneurs and five employees without jobs, raising questions about transparency and the future of youth entrepreneurship in Bhutan. The food truck, launched in 2020 with a significant private investment and operating under a legal license, was ordered to close without formal written notice or clear explanation.

The business, which started on October 6, 2020, by entrepreneurs Karma Gyeltshen, Ugyen Jamtsho, and Yeshi Wangchuk, received verbal instructions to temporarily halt operations on April 23, 2025, and was completely shut down on April 30. The closure came after a directive from the Dzongkhag authorities and a request to relocate the food truck to a different site.

Karma Gyeltshen explained, “I returned from working abroad with the dream of starting a youth-led project. Along with my partners, we invested Nu 2.5 million to launch this food truck. We obtained a legally authorized license and operated with the vision of empowering young people through entrepreneurship.” He said they complied with a temporary closure request on April 23 and replaced a faded banner featuring the Royal portrait, despite restrictions on movement. They moved the truck to a new location and kept the area clean as instructed.

However, when Karma met with the Dzongdag on April 30, he was told to shut down the food truck permanently, without any clear reason. The Dzongdag reportedly said, “They might have made enough profit by now,” and offered to help sell the food truck to a local association leader. Karma described the experience as discouraging, noting there was no prior written notice or warning.

The food truck operators mentioned that they followed all regulations, including hygiene standards, selling only vegetarian food, paying taxes on time, and operating legally. The business had sufficient parking space and closed by 7 PM daily, complying with traffic restrictions.

Employees affected by the closure expressed the serious impact on their lives. Namgay Wangmo, 23, said, “Before losing my job, I supported my sister and her children, and contributed to my parents. After the closure, I lost my income and had to move back to my village. Finding a new job is difficult as I only studied up to Class 6. The sudden shutdown left us unprepared.”

Rinchen Dorji, 24, the head chef, added, “Losing this job means depending on family and friends. It is hard to find work in Thimphu, and salaries are lower than what I earned here. Many young people leave the country because businesses like ours are often closed without clear reasons.” He described the closure as a sudden shock that left them without income overnight.

Ugyen Jamtsho, an entrepreneur, said, “I was not given prior notice. I invested Nu 3 million in this business, and now I face financial losses without explanation.” He also sought clarification from the Dzongdag but received none.
The closure comes at a time when the government prioritizes youth employment and entrepreneurship. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) Minister, Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, clarified during the 17th Meet-the-Press session that the food truck had operated under a previous Dzongda’s clearance, which expired. The Dzongkhag consulted stakeholders and made clear that continued operation required shifting to a permanent structure. He noted that new food truck licenses are not being issued due to challenges such as waste management, underutilized commercial spaces, law and order concerns, and fair competition.

Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji added that several programs support youth entrepreneurship, including Jabchor 2 financing, Startup Centres, RUB incubation, FabLabs, and employment skill programs.
Customers praised the food truck for its hygiene and compliance with regulations. Ugyen Tshering, a regular customer, said, “The food truck operated from morning until 7 PM, following traffic restrictions. The operators kept the place clean and sold only vegetarian food.” Tandin Om, another customer, noted, “Despite limited water supply, the staff maintained cleanliness and care.”

Entrepreneurs and employees question the rationale behind the sudden closure. They ask why the food truck was allowed to operate under the same conditions for years and why no formal warnings were issued before the shutdown if there were concerns about waste or late gatherings.

The sudden enforcement has raised concerns among youth groups about the future of small businesses and the potential impact on migration trends. According to the Prime Minister, approximately 66,000 people, or nine percent of the population, have migrated abroad, including many students.

Deo Maya Gurung, who worked at the food truck, described how the closure caused financial stress for her family. “After the shutdown, I found a new job but with lower pay, making it difficult to manage living expenses,” she said.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Thimphu Dzongdag were unsuccessful. Calls and messages went unanswered or were declined.

The case is currently under review by the regional Trade Office. Meanwhile, affected entrepreneurs hope for a resolution that supports youth entrepreneurship and job creation in the country.