Pay your workers by 28 May or prepare for jail: Adviser Sakhawat to factory owners
“I urge the owners to pay their workers or prepare for jail. Arrest warrants are in place, but we haven’t activated them yet. But some owners have been told they cannot stay in Dhaka,” he said
Garment factory owners must settle all outstanding wages of their workers by 28 May, or face arrest and imprisonment, warned Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain today (21 May).
He came up with the warning while speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat after a meeting on Eid-ul-Adha preparations.
"There were plans for workers to besiege the labour ministry and the Jamuna buildings. The factories are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industries and Commerce, but somehow the responsibility is falling on me. On Tuesday, we sat with the factory owners, and it was decided that they would clear workers' dues by 28 May — even if they have to sell their houses to do so. If they fail, arrest warrants could be issued," the adviser said.
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Warrants have already been issued, and if the owners are found abroad, red alerts will be activated through the proper channels, he said, adding, "They must pay the workers — whether by selling houses or vehicles. Anyone who can't pay workers for two or three months has no place in this sector."
"I urge the owners to pay their workers or prepare for jail. Arrest warrants are in place, but we haven't activated them yet. But some owners have been told they cannot stay in Dhaka," he said.
Besides, arrest warrants have already been issued against five factory owners, said the adviser.
Referring to the ferry services on Roumari-Chilmari route, the adviser said two medium-sized ferries have been introduced on the route in the northern parts of Bangladesh, he said.
Already, ferry services on the route are operating on a trial basis but are expected to launch officially soon.
"This new route will connect Jamalpur more directly. Once fully operational, it will reduce travel time to Dhaka by nearly 100 kilometres for people in the region. This is a significant achievement and we plan to begin full ferry service from Thursday ahead of Eid. The route has been restored through necessary dredging," said the adviser.
