BM Desk : The holy holiday of Eid-ul-Azha is next Saturday. Many factory workers have not yet received their bonuses and salary. Only half of the amount owing has been paid by several factories that have paid salaries. There are also factories where salaries have not been paid since April.

Many workers are still waiting for their unpaid salaries and Eid bonuses to be paid by May 31 and May salaries by June 3, according to a tripartite meeting held at the Ministry of Labor and Employment last month. This information was obtained through talks with members of the Industrial Police, representatives from the two organizations of owners of the ready-made garment industry, BGMEA and BKMEA, and labor leaders.

The Industrial Police, after inspecting 9,683 factories across various sectors in Savar-Ashulia, Mymensingh, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Khulna, Comilla, and Sylhet, reported that as of 9 pm on Wednesday, 19 percent, or 1,874 factories, had not yet paid their Eid bonuses.

Among the 9,683 factories monitored by the Industrial Police, 2,457 are in the ready-made garment and textile sectors. Of these, 19 percent, or 464 factories, had not issued bonuses as of yesterday afternoon. This includes 279 factories that are members of the BGMEA, 130 that belong to the BKMEA, and 81 that are part of the BTMA.

Meanwhile, problems have arisen in 32 ready-made garment factories in Savar and Dhamrai upazilas near Dhaka over the retrenchment of workers, payment of salaries and bonuses. Out of 1,863 factories in this area, 60 percent were closed yesterday. With this information, Ashulia Industrial Area Police-1 Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan said that they are working to resolve the problems of 32 factories facing problems with salary and allowances.

When asked, Khairul Mamun, Legal Secretary of the Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Center, said that the salaries and allowances of workers in several factories are still pending. If the workers do not get their dues before the holiday, how will they celebrate Eid with their family members. Such incidents are very sad every Eid.