122 RMG, textile factories yet to clear February salaries of workers: Industrial Police
According to the Bangladesh Labour Law 2006, the previous month’s salaries of the workers have to be paid within the first seven working days of the next month
A total of 122 readymade garments and textile factories are yet to clear the salaries of their workers for the month of February, said Industrial Police today (27 March).
There are 2,890 factories currently running under Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), among which 2,768 factories have paid the February salaries to their workers, a report published by the Industrial Police said.
Among them 122 factories are yet to pay salaries for February and among them 30 factories are yet to pay salaries for January and earlier, the report added.
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According to the Bangladesh Labour Law 2006, the previous month's salaries of the workers have to be paid within the first seven working days of the next month.
According to the report, 422 factories have paid half of the salaries for March to their workers in advance.
A total of 2,167 factories have paid Eid bonuses to their employees, while 723 factories are yet to pay the bonuses, which is 25% of the total factories.
However, the country has a total of 9,695 factories in total including jute mills and other factories.
Among them, 6,673 factories have paid Eid bonuses, and 1,835 factories have paid the salaries for March.
A total of 7,860 factories are yet to pay the salaries for March, which is 81.07% of the total factories, the report further said.
Speaking to The Business Standard, BGMEA Administrator Md Anowar Hossain said, "We are trying to clear workers' salaries and Eid bonuses before the Eid holidays."
"As part of this effort, we have communicated with the Ministry of Finance to release exporters' pending cash incentives, and they have already disbursed Tk2,250 crore. We have also engaged with commercial banks to release funds for factories facing financial challenges in paying workers' Eid bonuses and wages," Anowar added.
"Officials from the central bank are assisting us in persuading commercial banks to ensure timely payment of workers' bonuses and salaries. This morning, we were able to secure funds for three factories that were struggling to release funds from their cash incentives," Anowar also said.
Anowar Hossain added that another three factories had shut down about a year ago, and their workers are currently protesting the closure and demanding their dues.
"Considering their situation and on humanitarian grounds, we are also trying to arrange funds for them," he said.
He expressed hope that all RMG workers would receive their payments and be able to celebrate a joyful Eid.
The government has imposed travel bans on the owners of 12 garment factories for failing to pay workers' outstanding wages, benefits, and compensation. They will not be allowed to travel abroad until the dues are settled.
Among them are the owners of Dird Group's three factories, Mahmud Group's two factories, TNZ Group's four factories, Stylecraft Limited, Youngone (BD) Limited, and Roar Fashions.
However, except for Mahmud Group, the owners of the other factories have already left the country.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Mahmud Group DMD Rafee Mahmud said, "We need Tk8 crore to pay our workers. Finally, the banks have agreed to release the required funds. One bank has committed to providing Tk5.5 crore, while another has agreed to release Tk2.5 crore against cash incentives."
Mentioning the government's travel ban on them, Rafee said he has no intention of leaving the country, as they are focused on protecting their business and safeguarding workers' jobs.
Rafee Mahmud further stated, "If we receive an adequate gas supply, we will be able to stabilise our business within the next six months."
BGMEA Report
According to the BGMEA Factory Monitoring Report, the association has a total of 2,207 operational garment factories in Dhaka and Chattogram.
As of 12:55pm today, February wages have been paid in 95.53% of factories, while all factories have cleared January salaries.
However, overtime wages for February remain unpaid in some cases. Eid bonuses have been disbursed in 88.48% of factories.
For March, half salaries have been cleared in 30.20% of factories, with authorities assuring that all payments will be made before Eid.
