So far, a total of 7,684 factory units of various industrial hubs and export processing zones have paid their festival allowances as of Wednesday ahead of Eid-ul-Azha – which is scheduled to be celebrated on June 7, one of the biggest festivals for the Muslims, according to the Industrial Police data.
The Industrial Police data also stated that about 79.36 per cent factories have already cleared festival allowances to the workers so far, where 1,999 factories of total 9,683 units yet to pay festival allowances.
Industrial Police published data on the factories under the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and other factories.
Meanwhile, though the government holidays on Eid-ul-Azha started from Wednesday, still a large number of factory units haven’t paid the wages for May.
The data stated that as of Tuesday, only 3,065 (31.65 per cent) of total 9,683 factories cleared the May wages to its workers, meaning 6,618 factories yet to pay their wages.
The labour leaders expressed frustration and anger as most of the banks and government office did their last office that day.
Meanwhile, according to the Bangladesh Bank, the branches of the scheduled banks in the readymade garments industrial areas will remain open on June 5, 11 and 12 to facilitate payment of garment workers’ wages, Eid bonuses, allowances and export-import activities.
The areas are Dhaka, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chattogram.
The clients will be able to do banking transactions between 10:00am and 2:00pm, but the office will remain open until 4:00pm, said the central bank.
On the other hand, according to the BGMEA Factory Monitoring Report as of Wednesday, 2,008 or 95.98 per cent of total 2,093 operational factory units under BGMEA already cleared the festival allowances.
Moreover, 1,218 (58.22 per cent) factories already cleared the wages of May and 874 factories are on the process of clearing the wages.
BGMEA Monitoring Report also stated that there are 11 factories under the association are on the high risk of paying May wages.
Talking to New Age, Nazma Akter, president of the Sommilito Garments Sramik Federation, said that still a large number of factories are yet to pay May wages which is concerning.
‘Moreover, a large delegation of the Labour Ministry along with adviser, secretary and high officials are currently at Geneva, joining the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference of the ILO, which also accelerated the concerns,’ she added.
She also said protests erupted at some factories demanding the due wages and allowances ahead of Eid.
‘The banks would be closed since today (Wednesday), it alarming how the large number of factories would pay their dues,’ she added.
Earlier, on May 19, Home Affairs Adviser Lt General (Retd) Jahangir Alam instructed the manufacturers to clear the workers’ May wages and festival allowances ahead of Eid-ul-Azha between June 1 and 3.
He also urged the factory owners to accept the workers’ and warned that law enforcement agencies will take action if any attempt is made to block roads or disrupt public movement over irrational demands.
