Eid Approaches: Salaries still unpaid
Despite the deadline passing, salaries for February remain unpaid in a quarter of RMG and some other industrial factories, while nearly half of all factories have yet to disburse Eid bonuses to workers.
According to the Industrial Police, which monitors 10,100 factories across the country, as of Monday, 25 per cent — or 2,544 factories — had not paid last month’s wages. In addition, 45.57 per cent, or 5,007 factories, have yet to provide Eid bonuses.
Earlier this month, following a tripartite meeting between factory owners, workers, and the government, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury instructed that February salaries be paid by 9 March and Eid bonuses by 12 March.
The government also arranged easy-term loans equivalent to one month’s salary for workers in operational and export-oriented factories.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance released 2,500 crore taka in cash support to the export sector.
Despite these measures, workers have again taken to the streets demanding timely payment ahead of the festival, a recurring issue each year.
Salamuddin Swapon, former Secretary-General of the Industrial Bangladesh Council, said some ready-made garment owners deliberately delay February salaries and bonuses, fearing that paying them early would prompt workers to demand part of March’s wages in advance.
However, some factories have already paid February wages and part of March salaries.
In Gazipur, the payment of wages and bonuses for over a hundred workers at HDF Apparels remains uncertain, as the factory owner cannot be reached.
Similarly, a factory in Narayanganj faced temporary uncertainty over wage and bonus payments before the situation was resolved with a 30 lakh taka loan provided by three leaders of BKMEA, the Knit Garments Owners’ Association.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem confirmed: “Bank transactions will take place in the industrial zones on Wednesday and Thursday.
Factories are expected to pay wages and bonuses before granting leave, so we hope there will be no issues.”
Meanwhile, BGMEA, the association of ready-made garment owners, reports that out of 2,127 operational factories in Dhaka and Chattogram, 2,090 have paid February salaries, leaving 37 factories pending.
Eid bonuses have been paid by 2,051 factories, meaning 76 factories have not yet disbursed them.
Five factories still owe January salaries, and 478 factories have provided advance payments for March.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said: “There may be last-minute delays in a few factories, but we will take all necessary steps to resolve them. We are closely monitoring wage and bonus payments.”
According to BGMEA, Eid holidays will begin today, Tuesday, in 35 per cent of factories (625), Wednesday in 45 per cent (803), and Thursday in 89 factories.
