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Nearly 57 per cent industrial and manufacturing units in Bangladesh did not pay Eid bonuses to their workers as of yesterday, missing the deadline set by the government.
Of the total 9,176 estimated industrial and manufacturing units, 43.29 per cent, or 3,972 factories, have so far cleared the festival bonuses, according to data from the Industrial Police.
The labour and employment ministry had instructed factory owners to provide bonuses to their workers by April 22.
Of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association’s (BGMEA) 1,615 member units, 922 have paid the bonus to the workers so far.
Some 441 out of 685 members of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and 182 out of 338 members of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association have made the payments related to the festival allowances to the workers so far.
Of the 384 factories housed in the economic zones of the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority, 264 cleared the bonus, data from the industrial police showed.
Workers of 31 jute mills have received the bonus out of a total of 83.
In other categories, there are 6,107 industrial and manufacturing units. Workers of 3,972 units have received the festival benefits.
More than 86 per cent, or 7,963 industrial units, did not pay the 15 days’ salary for April, again failing to implement the government instruction.
Nazma Akter, president of the Bangladesh Sammilito Garment Sramik Federation, said they had demanded the bonus payment by April 22, but a good number of factories are yet to pay the allowances.
Nearly 65 per cent of garment factories are yet to clear the festival bonus as of yesterday, she told The Daily Star.
According to the labour rights activist, nearly 300 garment factories are in trouble and might face difficulties in paying wages and bonuses to their workers ahead of Eid, which will be celebrated next week.
“Every day, we are working to solve various complaints of workers regarding the payment of Eid bonus.”
She suggested the government monitor the payment situation so that all the workers can go their village homes with Eid bonuses and salaries and celebrate the festival in a joyous mood.
Md Shahidullah Azim, senior vice-president of the BGMEA, said nearly 100 per cent of BGMEA members have paid their salaries and 80.87 per cent of factories cleared the bonuses.
He admits that seven members are facing difficulties in paying their workers. “Still, they will be able to pay their workers ahead of Eid holidays.”
Earlier, Monnujan Sufian, state minister for labour and employment, instructed the owners of the industries and manufacturing units to complete the payments of bonuses and salaries for March and April before the Eid holiday, scheduled to begin on April 29.
She urged the owners to pay the workers at least 15 days’ salary for April if it is not possible to pay it in full.
(TDS)
