Staff Reporter :
Every year, before the two Eid festivals, tensions begins to spawn in many labour intensive garment factories as the workers in many of these factories do not get their salaries, allowances and bonuses before the festivals.
Sources said that around 416 garment factories are in critical situation as these apparel factories would not be able to pay their workers their rightful wages, allowances and bonuses before Eid.
Meanwhile, the government officials said that before the Eid holiday, workers must be paid their salaries and bonuses.
No worker will be allowed to be laid off before Eid. Strict directives have been issued for this purpose.
In the past it was witnessed that without any prior announcement, many factories shut down hastily before Eid.
Workers were laid off, leading to protests. Due to these reasons, garment workers were often compelled to take to the streets to demand their overdue payments before each Eid.
In previous years, incidents such as roadblocks, vehicle vandalism, and arson had occurred before Eid.
These events had fueled unrest among workers.
This year too, there is uncertainty regarding whether approximately 416 garment factories in the country will pay their workers their rightful wages, allowances, and bonuses before Eid.
If they fail to understand the situation, extreme dissatisfaction among workers may arise once again.
This could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the affected industrial areas.
According to a report by the Industrial Police, about 416 garment factories in the country might face difficulties in paying salaries and bonuses before the upcoming Eid.
More than half of these factories are members of either Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) or Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
These factories are facing risks due to various economic crises, including insufficient buying orders. Consequently, they struggle to pay their workers on time, especially during the month of March when salaries are often delayed, including bonuses. Other factories in different sectors are also facing similar crises.
Of the risky 416 factories, 171 are members of BGMEA, 71 are members of BKMEA, 29 are members of BTMEA, 13 are members of BEPZA, and 132 are not affiliated with any such associations. Industrial police prepared the list by analysing the data of 3,600 factories.
Preferring anonymity, a senior police officer said, “The workers can take to the streets demanding salaries and bonuses.
Then the police have to tackle the situation.
Police become the villain in the eyes of the workers as they face them to keep the situation under control. Factory workers are not found at that time.”
BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Baten told the media that the current situation of the factories is critical due to various reasons including bank loans, lower international market order, high prices of raw materials, rising prices of gas and electricity.
The production is being hampered for these factors and delivery failed when the production is not finished in due time, he said adding that the money does not come in specified time and then it becomes difficult to pay the salaries and bonuses.
