RMG sector Eid holidays to begin tomorrow

Workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector are set to begin their Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, which can extend up to 10 days, including the three-day official public holiday. 

Through mutual discussions between factory owners and workers, employees can take an additional 6 to 7 days of leave, adjusted against their weekly and annual earned leave.

According to a notice issued by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the government has declared 3 April (Thursday) a public holiday through an executive order. 

However, this order does not apply to private industries or factories. As a result, factory-specific festival leave schedules have been set following labour laws and communicated by BGMEA.

Regarding additional leave, the notice states, "The factory management and workers' representatives will discuss and determine, in accordance with labour laws, when the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday will commence."

Speaking to The Business Standard (TBS), Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said,  "The government holiday remains limited to three days. However, many workers are extending their leave by 5 to 7 days. Some have already compensated for these leaves by working on their weekly holidays in advance, while others plan to do so after returning from the holiday. In this way, workers are taking a total of 8 to 10 days of leave, including the official three-day holiday. However, these leaves are being determined through discussions between workers and factory owners, as some factories, due to workload, cannot afford to grant extended holidays."

Holiday starts from 26 March 

A total of 161 factories have announced vacations starting from 26 March, while 374 factories have announced vacations from 27 March.

On the other hand, 648 factories have announced vacations from 28 March, and 924 factories have announced vacations from 29 March, according to the BGMEA.

A total of 207 factories have yet to pay their employees' Eid bonuses. However, factories were instructed to clear bonuses by the 20th of Ramadan and to pay half of March's salary before the Eid vacation.
Additionally, 24 factories have yet to clear their employees' February salaries. 

BGMEA data also mentioned that one factory has not yet paid its workers' January salary.

As per labour law, factory owners must pay their employees' salaries within seven working days of the following month.

A total of 11 BGMEA-member factories remain at risk of unrest due to the non-payment of workers' wages and Eid bonuses.

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

Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on 31 March, based on moon sighting. 

The Ministry of Public Administration has declared five consecutive holidays from 29 March to 2 April, including three public holidays (29-31 March). Additionally, with the 3 April general holiday declaration, government employees will enjoy a nine-day Eid vacation.