MNA Business Desk: Garment owners’ association BGMEA claimed that all, specifically 99.95% readymade garment factories have paid festival (Eid) bonus to their workers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr while most factories without two or three paid wages for the month of June.
“Ahead of Eid, 99.95% RMG owners have already paid festival bonus to their workers and most of the owners except two or three have paid wages for June,” said Md. Siddiqur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
He later claimed that 75% of the factories went into vacation and others would close by 4pm in July 4 for Eid-ul-Fitr. BGMEA president said they had received evidence from industrial police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police and commerce ministry that 350 RMG units might face trouble paying bonus and wages.
He said after having that information, BGMEA had brought 1,200 factories under close monitoring. Siddiqur also said BGMEA inspected 1,319 factories and found 44 of them “problematic.” “Then we stepped to resolve the crisis in these 44 factories.”
A central crisis management team is working to monitor the payment situation of workers ahead of Eid, he said. Separate crisis management committees are working in nine zones across the country to keep watch on the matter.
“As far as I know almost all factories have paid festival bonus before Eid, but around 20% of factories have not paid wages for June yet. Hope all the factories will pay the wages by today.” Sirajul Islam Rony, president of Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League.
State Minister for Labor and Employment Md. Mujibul Haque earlier urged that factory owners to pay bonus by 26 June and pay wages before Eid.
Stating deep sympathy for the deceased in the terrorist attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, BGMEA leaders said there might not be any bad influence on the garment business.