47 RMG factories yet to pay April wages

Around 47 readymade garment factories in Dhaka and Chattogram did not pay workers' April salaries till Tuesday, according to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Also, around 31 factories did not clear festival bonuses till Tuesday.

Workers of 12 factories protested on Tuesday demanding April salaries and Eid-ul-Fitr bonuses, said industrial police sources.

Of the 1,913 apparel factories in Dhaka and Chattogram, 1,866 BGMEA member factories paid April salaries and some 1,882 cleared festival bonuses till Tuesday.

BGMEA leaders said 15 garment factories in Dhaka would pay April salaries and eight would clear festival bonuses by Wednesday (today).

In Chattogram, 32 factories promised to clear April salaries while 23 would pay festival bonuses by Wednesday (today).

The labour and employment ministry earlier directed factory owners to pay salaries and festival allowances by 10 May.

BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim told The Business Standard almost every factory would be able to pay salaries and Eid bonuses by Wednesday (today).

"Some 44 factories had a financial crisis and faced trouble paying April wages and Eid bonuses. But they have cleared payments after long negotiations with various parties," he added.

He said some 47 factories in Dhaka and Chattogram would pay April salaries on Wednesday (today) while 31 would pay festival bonuses on the same day.

Industrial police sources said about 10% of the factories in Savar and Ashulia had not paid their workers till Tuesday evening.

Superintendent of Police of industrial police zone 1 Md Asaduzzaman said, "Workers of six factories have demonstrated over payments of wages and bonuses. We are trying to negotiate with factory owners and labour leaders to resolve the problems."

He also said they had already resolved the issue at a number of factories.

Siddikur Rahman, superintendent of police of Gazipur industrial police, said workers of at least five factories had protested demanding payments.

He said most factories had paid workers till Tuesday evening and also hoped that all factories in Gazipur would be able to clear payments by Wednesday (today).

Workers of Kattali Textile protested in Chattogram's Akbar Shah Police Station area on Tuesday morning demanding the Eid bonus be 100% of basic salaries. They returned to work after two hours.

Superintendent of Police of industrial police in Chattogram Md Solaiman said the Kattali Textile authorities had announced a 50% bonus but workers demanded 100%.

"Industrial police and local police went to the scene when workers began their protest. After a meeting with the factory authorities and workers' representatives, the former agreed to pay a full bonus," he said.