Staff reporter :
Labour and Employment Secretary Sanowar Jahan Bhuiyan has confirmed that Nassa Group will begin paying outstanding dues to its factory workers in line with a tripartite settlement agreement signed earlier this month.
The settlement, reached on 23 September among workers, factory owners, and representatives of relevant government agencies, was designed to ease labour unrest within the group’s factories.
Speaking after a meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Dhaka on Thursday, the secretary said the company has been directed to mobilise funds immediately and start disbursing payments.
According to a ministry press release, the meeting was attended by representatives of BGMEA, BKMEA, banks, workers, and Nassa Group officials.
It was decided that all pending wages and benefits will be paid through digital platforms such as bKash, Nagad, Rocket, and Dutch-Bangla Mobile Banking. For workers who do not yet have mobile accounts, Nassa has been instructed to compile a list and ensure accounts are opened by 10 October.
To facilitate payments, several financial measures were agreed upon. The Tk24 crore deposited by Nassa Group in Exim Bank will be released in consultation with Bangladesh Bank and the Financial Institutions Division.
Similarly, Tk2.18 crore in cash incentives held at Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC’s local office branch will be disbursed via Bangladesh Bank.
South Bangla Agriculture and Commerce Bank PLC will also release Tk4.26 crore from the company’s export earnings after deducting a 1percent down payment, enabling wage clearance.
Another key decision was that Nassa Group Chairman Md Nazrul Islam Mazumder, currently in prison, must sign a power of attorney in the presence of a judicial or executive magistrate to ensure the proper execution of payment procedures.
As part of the settlement, he will also release a video message addressing the workers about the payment process, aimed at restoring confidence and easing tensions.
Officials noted that the settlement marks a significant step toward stabilising the situation within Nassa Group, one of the country’s major garment exporters, and protecting workers’ rights in the sector.
