February wages still unpaid in 29 RMG factories, eid bonuses due for many

HIGHLIGHTS 

• 207 BGMEA-affiliated factories have not disbursed Eid bonuses
• 118 BKMEA-affiliated factories have not paid Eid bonuses as well
• Government deadline for bonus payment was 20th Ramadan
• 11 BGMEA-affiliated factories are at high risk of labour protests

With Eid-ul-Fitr just around the corner and many ready-made garment (RMG) factories officially beginning holidays from tomorrow, concerns over worker unrest persist as many factories are yet to pay wages and Eid bonuses.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) states that the risk of unrest looms over 11 affiliated factories due to the non-payment of wages and bonuses. The workers at these factories are demanding immediate payments so that they can celebrate Eid with financial security.

As per BGMEA data, 29 RMG factories have yet to pay workers' February salaries, despite labour laws requiring salary payments within seven working days of the following month.

One factory is yet to give the employees their January wages.

In addition, 207 factories have yet to disburse Eid bonuses, despite instructions to complete these payments by the 20th of Ramadan. Factories were also directed to pay at least half of March's salaries before the Eid break, but many have not complied.

Meanwhile, according to Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) data as of today, a total of 613 BKMEA member factories have been assessed regarding wage payments, Eid bonuses, and leave allocation for workers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Among them, 584 factories have cleared February salaries, while five are yet to do so. 

Additionally, 393 factories have paid half salaries for March, while 220 (35.89%) have yet to make any payments. In terms of Eid bonuses, 371 factories have disbursed payments, but 118 have not yet made the payments.

According to Mapped in Bangladesh (MIB) data, the country has 3,555 export-oriented garment factories, employing approximately 3.053 million workers.

The RMG sector's Eid vacation officially begins on 26 March, with 161 factories granting leave from this date. Another 374 factories will begin their holidays on 27 March, while 648 factories have announced closures from 28 March.

The largest group, comprising 924 factories, will start their holidays on 29 March, according to BGMEA data.

Protests over unpaid wages

In Savar, workers demonstrated after their factory announced an indefinite closure, while in Gazipur, workers protested against unpaid salaries and bonuses.

In Hemayetpur Rishipara of Savar, workers of Jeans Manufacturing Company Ltd blocked the Hemayetpur-Singair regional road from 7:30am after discovering an indefinite closure notice under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, which enforces a "no work, no pay" policy.

The factory's closure notice stated that operations were suspended due to vandalism, violence, and unrest caused by some workers.

According to workers, the issue began on Monday when they staged a sit-in protest inside the factory. 

"The management had brought in five to six outsiders, which triggered unrest. Later, an official was also beaten up, and I heard he is now hospitalised," said a sewing operator requesting anonymity.

The workers were demanding a 10-day Eid holiday instead of the eight days granted by the management, along with payment for 20 working days of March and pending overtime wages.

The blockade ended at 9:30am after army officials intervened, but workers continued their demonstration in front of the factory. 

In Gazipur's Kaliakair upazila, workers of Hagh Knitwears Ltd blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway from 7:30am to 8:30am, demanding three months' due wages and Eid bonuses. The protest caused severe traffic disruptions before police, industrial police, and army personnel intervened.

According to workers, they had been seeking their wages for several days, but the factory management did not respond. When they arrived at the factory yesterday morning, they found the main gate locked, prompting them to take to the streets.