Eid holiday will start after three days. Even though the time is approaching, so far 88 percent of the workers of Chattogram garment factory have been paid and received bonus. 200 factories have not paid their workers for the month of March. Besides, 500 factories have not given Eid-ul-Fitr bonus. However, the factory owners said that all types of salaries and bonuses will be paid by April 20.
BGMEA says that every factory has been advised to ensure the safe journey of the workers by giving Eid leave step by step. Instructions have also been given for payment of salary and bonus to all the workers.
According to the Industrial Police, there are 1,470 garment factories in Chattogram. The list includes large factories, medium, small and contract (sub-contract) establishments. Among them, Chattogram has 91 factories listed by BGMEA, 140 factories are members of BKMEA.
Out of the 1,470 garment factories in Chattogram, about 1,200 factories have only paid workers' salaries for the month of March. Most of the factories paid Eid bonus along with salary. So far the workers of around 500 factories in Chattogram have not received the bonus.
It is known that 1 thousand 466 garment factories of Chattogram paid the salary and bonus to the workers by April 28 following the instructions of the government and BGMEA last year. The remaining 4 factories employed 12 workers each. They pay the money the night before Eid. According to the factory owners, Chattogram businessmen paid the salary and bonus to the workers before all other regions last year even during Eid. This time will not be an exception.
BGMEA first vice president Syed Nazrul Islam said that the salary and bonus of workers must be paid on time. We are monitoring it strictly. Although now most of our factories are facing financial crisis. The order has decreased. Buyers paying late. All in all, garment factories are currently going through a stressful time. Before Eid, strict instructions have been given by BGMEA that the factory owners should pay the salary and bonus by April 20. Some factories are not under BGMEA, measures have been taken by the Deputy Commissioner regarding those factories.
He said, we are working sincerely to ensure that our workers can celebrate the Eid festival with joy. We can say that like last year, the garment factory owners of Chattogram will be the first in the country to pay all kinds of salary and bonus to the workers.
Chattogram Industrial Police Assistant Superintendent of Police (Intelligence and Media) Salim Newaz said, We are working in such a way that there is no problem in paying the salary and bonus of the garment factory workers of Chattogram. Till now no such problem of labor dissatisfaction, protest has arisen. The situation in Chattogram is normal from all sides. I hope there will be no more problems. Factories that have not yet paid their dues have assured us that they will pay by April 20.