A total of 3,620 workers and 120 staff from five factories of TNZ Apparels Group in Gazipur Metropolitan have received one month's overdue salary three days ahead of schedule.
The payments were made to their accounts on Thursday evening.
Workers and staff expressed satisfaction for receiving the salary earlier than expected.
TNZ Group's factories are located in the Mogorkhal area of Gazipur.
The factories include TNZ Apparels Limited with 2,800 workers, Basic Clothing Limited with 420 workers, and Apparel Art Limited with 400 workers. Salaries for September and October were overdue.
Expo Carton has 40 staff, and MNS Yarn Dyeing Factory has 80 staff, who were also owed salaries and service benefits.
The workers said that although the salary was supposed to be given on Sunday, they received it on Thursday evening in their bKash accounts, expressing happiness that the owners had kept their promise.
TNZ Group Chairman Hedayatul Haque said that all five factories would reopen on Saturday.
Workers will return to production, helping the owners recover losses.
On November 9, around 9:30am, nearly 2,000 workers of TNZ Group’s five factories began protesting on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur's Mogorkhal area, demanding overdue wages.
The workers blocked the highway for three days.
Labor Ministry Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman announced that the government would pay the workers' salaries.
During a meeting at the Labor House on Monday night, with 31 worker representatives from TNZ Group, BGMEA leaders, and ministry officials, it was agreed that September's salary would be paid by November 17 and October's by November 30.
The factory authorities would reopen the factories as soon as possible.
Chairman Hedayatul Haque expressed concern, saying: “We have invested over Tk350 crore. We’ve paid over Tk125 crore in interest to the bank. We are not a defaulter company. Delays in receiving export payments caused our overdue situation. We had an 8-crore loan approved to pay wages, but the bank did not disburse it, leading to issues. With government assistance, we managed to pay the first 8 crores ahead of time. This money was given to workers without any work. The upcoming installment will also be given without work.”
Chairman Hedayatul Haque added that the workers received their dues and would receive the next payment on time.
He expressed gratitude to the government for their support and hoped for continued cooperation.
He expects workers to work sincerely, considering all aspects, to boost factory production.