Apparels Plus Eco, owned by TNZ Group, workers' salaries, bonuses paid by selling factory cars

Apparel Eco Ltd, owned by TNZ Group, workers' dues have been paid by selling factory cars of the company, Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain said today (27 March)

Besides, three other factories have been given Tk12.23 crore to pay their workers, disclosed at a press briefing at the Secretariat today (27 March), he said. 

"As per the decision of the meeting on 25 March, to resolve the workers' dissatisfaction, the TNZ Group's Apparels Eco Limited's cars were sold and the workers' salaries and allowances were paid," he said.

"I don't know if this has happened before in Bangladesh. The owner is in the hospital in a sick condition," he added.

Speaking about the above-mentioned three RMG factories, the labour advisor said Tk1.23 crore has been provided from the emergency account of the Central Fund of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in favour of Roar Fashion to pay the workers' dues. 

However, this initiative cannot be extended to any other organisation, he noted.

Apart from this, the labour advisor said at the initiative of the ministry, the Bangladesh Bank has released Tk11 crore cash assistance to pay the salaries and allowances of workers of two Mahmud Group companies.

The advisor said the issue of paying the salaries and allowances of Stylecraft and Youngones BD Limited was settled at a meeting held at the Ministry of Labor with the company's owners and workers.

According to a report published by the Industrial Police earlier today, a total of 122 readymade garments and textile factories were yet to clear the salaries of their workers for the month of February.

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 the factories, 2,768 factories have paid the February salaries to their workers, the Industrial Police said.

Besides, among the 122 factories yet to pay salaries for February, 30 factories were yet to pay salaries for January and earlier months, the report added.

Action against anyone who fails to pay workers

Speaking at the press briefing at the Secretariat today, Adviser Sakhawat assured industrial workers that they will get their dues.
"We have tried our best to ensure that everyone gets what they deserve. We will start taking action against those who do not pay it by today or tomorrow morning. Almost all the problems have been resolved."

Premier Bank withholding workers' money

Meanwhile, he stated that the privately-run Premier Bank has withheld money released by the government to pay the dues of disgruntled garment factory workers.

"If the money is not paid, the bank's managing director (MD) will face punishment, as he is considered to be working against the state," the adviser warned.

Addressing the MD of Premier Bank, the adviser said, "You have to release this money. If you do not release the money, you will take responsibility for it. You will be accused of a criminal offense. Now there is no chance of a loan adjustment.

"We have released this money officially. When you gave away the money as loans, did you forget that this was workers' money? You will give the money to the workers, if you do not give the money, [remember that] both you and I exist. If I am alive, I will take action against the bank, the branch, the managing director and the manager."

Disclaimer: The article's headline and intro have been changed to clarify that Apparel Eco Ltd workers were paid, not the TNZ Apparel workers