State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu yesterday called for the RMG manufacturers to pay wages for the month of June by July 10 and festival bonus by July 14.
He made the call after the Crisis Management Core Committee meeting at his secretariat yesterday.
“There will have no problem regarding the payment of workers’ wages and festival bonus, and I hope that the RMG workers will be able to enjoy Eid peacefully,” said Mujibul.
He also called upon the factory owners to declare vacation on different days in different locations to avert traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, the labour leaders demanded festival allowances by July 5 and wages by July 10 so that workers can shop to celebrate the Eid ul-Fitr. However, the RMG owners’ representatives proposed to pay wages by July 10 and allowances by July 15 ahead of Eid.
“The BGMEA is monitoring over 1,200 small and medium factories across the country so that it can ensure payment of workers’ wages and allowances in due time,” said SM Mannan Kochi, second vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
He asked the government to closely monitor the RMG units, which are not the members of any association to avert any untoward incidents.
“Bangladesh Garment Workers Employee League president Sirajul Islam Roni placed a list of 350 problematic factories, which may face trouble to pay wages and bonus,” a meeting source told the Dhaka Tribune.
He also apprehended unrest, centring late payment or non-payment of festival bonus and allowances.
Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar and Syed Ahmed, inspector general of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, and representatives from BGMEA, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Textile Mills and RMG trade union leaders were president in the meeting.
