B Mirror Report: Factories in the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector have announced up to 10 days of Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, with most units expected to remain closed from March 18 to March 27 to allow workers to celebrate the festival with their families.

In a notice issued to its members, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said its management offices in Dhaka and Chattogram will remain closed from March 19 to March 25. The offices are scheduled to reopen on March 28, following the Independence Day public holiday on March 26 and the weekly weekend on March 27.

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Mohammad Hatem said the association has also issued a similar notice in line with the government holiday schedule from March 19 to March 27.

He noted that factories under BGMEA and BKMEA will follow their own holiday arrangements, although most units are planning to provide at least nine days of vacation.

According to him, while the Labour Act allows a three-day Eid holiday, many factories have extended the break to up to 10 days by adjusting general holidays and duty rosters.

The government’s Eid holiday period will last seven days this year, beginning with the Shab-e-Qadr holiday on March 17 and continuing until March 23. The government has also declared March 18 a public holiday through an executive order, according to a circular issued by the Ministry of Public Administration.

BGMEA Director and Managing Director of Cute Dress Industry Ltd, Sheikh Hossain Muhammad Mustafiz, said his factory will remain closed from March 19 to March 27.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Aman Garment Ltd Md Jasim Uddin said his factory has announced a 10-day vacation from March 18 to March 27, adjusting general holidays and duty schedules to consider workers’ interests, as many of them travel to their villages only during the two Eid festivals each year.

According to BGMEA data, out of 2,127 operational factories under the association, 2,122 have already paid January wages. In addition, 2,001 factories have cleared February wages, while 1,741 factories have disbursed festival allowances. So far, only five factories have partially paid March wages.

On Friday, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury instructed all industrial establishments to clear workers’ outstanding wages and festival allowances before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

The minister also said that a list of risk-prone factories will be prepared based on parliamentary constituencies and shared with lawmakers so they can engage with factory owners to ensure the timely payment of wages and bonuses to workers.