BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said all the factories have already given festival allowance and advance wages for the month of April 2022 to the workers as per the decision of the government. Eid holidays have been provided in 100% of the factories.
He thanked the RMG entrepreneurs for paying wages and bonuses to the workers despite having many difficulties.
Faruque Hassan said: “As per the directions of the prime minister, the home minister and the minister of state for labor and employment, factory owners have staggered holidays zone-wise on different dates, resulting in less pressure of traffic on the highways than on previous occasions.”
Eid holidays have started in garment factories since last Wednesday and garment workers have been leaving for their villages since then. It is hoped that all garment workers will leave by today, he said.
He thanked the government for taking various steps, especially managing the construction works of the development projects without interrupting vehicular movement flow and ensuring easy and safe travel of garment workers during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
He also requested the government to complete the development projects in the shortest possible time to accelerate the economic growth of the country.
He expressed hope that the completion of the development projects would significantly improve the traffic situation on the highways and people would be able to travel more smoothly.
Faruque Hassan thanked Bangladesh Bank for keeping banking services open on April 29 and 30 at the request of BGMEA, in order to facilitate payment of garment workers' wages, festival allowances and export-import activities.
He also thanked the National Board of Revenue for keeping custom houses open during holidays from April 29 to May 4 (except Eid day) to facilitate export-import activities.
BGMEA president also thanked the Textile Department of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) for keeping services open on the weekend of April 30 for the interests of the RMG sector. He also expressed thanks to the Chittagong Port Authority for keeping the port activities operational 24/7 before and after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
He said: “As the Covid situation is better this year than the last two years, more workers are going home to celebrate Eid with their families this year.”
He wished every worker and owner would reach home safely and celebrate Eid with their families.
Faruque Hassan urged all homebound people, including garment workers to follow health safety guidelines rules, including wearing masks.
He also requested the government authorities to intensify monitoring to ensure that buses, trains and launches do not carry extra passengers and can avoid any untoward accident on the way home on the occasion of Eid.
