Many factories miss wage, festival bonus deadlines

Date:

Post View:

Many factories miss wage, festival bonus deadlines

B Mirror Report: Despite government regulations issued before to Eid-ul-Fitr, many industrial facilities nationwide have not yet cleared workers’ February pay and festival allowances. About 32.34 percent, or 3,266 industries, including ready-made garment (RMG) units under its supervision, had not paid February salaries till Sunday, according to data from the Industrial Police (IP).

Meanwhile, nearly 63.45 percent or 6,408 factories failed to disburse festival bonuses, although the government had instructed owners to complete the payments by March 12.

Earlier on March 3, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Hoque Chowdhury directed factory owners to settle February wages within the first seven working days of March (by March 9) and pay festival bonuses by March 12.

Factory managements were also asked to advance half of the March salary following consultations between workers and employers. The government further advised factory owners to discuss and decide on Eid holidays in consultation with employees.

Industrial Police statistics show that 10,100 factories, including textile mills, garment units and jute industries, are operating under its supervision in Dhaka, Gazipur, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Sylhet and Cumilla, excluding Dhaka Metropolitan city.

Among them, about 67.66 percent or 6,834 factories have paid February wages, while only 3,692 units cleared festival bonuses as of Sunday.

In the garment sector, 907 out of 1,542 factories affiliated with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) under IP oversight had not paid festival bonuses.

Similarly, 469 out of 627 factories under the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and 222 units belonging to the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) also failed to provide festival bonuses to workers.

According to IP data, 88 of 429 factories under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) and 30 out of 76 jute mills could not pay festival bonuses, while 4,692 non-RMG factories also remained unpaid.

Regarding February wages, 393 BGMEA member factories, 325 BKMEA units, 158 BTMA factories, 10 BEPZA factories, and four jute mills had yet to settle worker salaries, while 2,376 non-RMG units also failed to clear wages.

Sources at the labour ministry said the government on March 8 assigned an additional inspector general of Industrial Police as a focal point to oversee the payment of wages, festival bonuses and other benefits to RMG workers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The labour minister also urged factory owners on Friday to settle wages and festival bonuses before the start of the Eid holidays.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have prepared a list of around 266 factories, including 180 textile and garment units, in different industrial zones that are considered vulnerable to labour unrest, as they may fail to clear wages and festival bonuses before the upcoming Eid festival.

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

spot_img

Popular

More like this
Related

RMG body denies forced labour excess capacity claims

B Mirror Report: The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters...

BIWTA, launch operators agree on revised fares set Tk 3 km rate

B Mirror Report: The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority...

Experts stress Shariah governance to boost bank transparency

B Mirror Report: Experts at a training workshop have...

NBR plans gradual end to tax holidays to broaden tax base

B Mirror Report: The National Board of Revenue (National...