Around 60% readymade garment factories claimed to have already paid Eid bonuses to their workers within the deadline set by the government, said a BGMEA office bearer.
“The rest 40% will be paid within a day or two,” BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
The estimate was based on a monitor by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), which found 612 units out of 1,000 already complied with the deadline that expired yesterday.
The government had earlier set the deadline to avert possible workers’ unrest that often takes place ahead of the festival like Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.
Of the factories monitored, 14 have been identified as problematic but, Azim said, the problems could be resolved soon with the help the stakeholders concerned.
There are 13 other factories having problems in paying wages, but it would also be possible to overcome as we are witnessing the progress every day, he added.
BGMEA launched the monitoring through its 15 cells across the country to know the latest situation of the factories over the payment of wages and bonus before Eid-ul-Fitr.
“Most of the units those already paid the bonuses are well-off and compliant factories,” said Sirajul Islam Rony, President of Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League (BNGWEL). He said the problematic ones are mainly the small and non-compliant factories.
“But a good number of factory owners did not pay salaries for the month of August, which is a matter of concern,” said Rony, urging the owners to pay wages soon to avert unrest.
Earlier, State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu announced that the readymade garment workers will receive festival bonuses on the occasions of Eid-ul Azha and Durga Puja by September 28 and the monthly wages by October 2.
Meanwhile, RMG workers-leaders staged demonstration and demanded payment of bonuses and salaries for the month of September before October 2.
The workers leaders brought out a protest rally in front of the National Press Club under the banner of Garment Sramik Sanghoti.
Taslima Akter, convenor of Garment Sramik Sanghoti, urged the factory owners to pay the bonus and wages before the government set date. She said: “We’ve not yet been assured of getting the pays as per the government directive.”