98% RMG owners cleared Eid bonuses: BGMEA president
78-80% of BGMEA member factories have also disbursed wages for the month of July
Around 98 percent readymade garment (RMG) owners have paid their workers festival bonuses ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Dr Rubana Huq.
“As per our report, 78-80 percent of BGMEA member factories have disbursed wages for the month of July and more than 98 percent factories have cleared bonuses,” she told reporters on Thursday.
“Another 10 percent of the due wages is likely to be paid by August 9, and the rest of the 10 percent will be paid by August 10 as per the government directives. Until Wednesday, the BGMEA had only 5 out of 130 factories on its watch list and they too have cleared bonuses.”
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Rubana further said the RMG factories have declared holidays in a split fashion as per the government’s request.
The BGMEA has fixed the vacation for workers in two phases, on August 10 and 11. The banks in the industrial zones will remain open on August 9 and 10 (Friday and Saturday) so that the workers can avail banking services.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has assured that there is little chance of discontentment among RMG workers ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, said a ministry press release on Thursday.
According to the ministry, there are 3,400 factories running under the jurisdiction of the BGMEA and 1,083 running factories under the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Among them, 92 percent of the factories under the BKMEA have paid bonuses to the workers as of Wednesday. The factories under the BKMEA have also paid half of the wages of July and the rest will be paid by August 10.
Meanwhile, the Department of Factories and Establishment’s Deputy Inspector General of Dhaka, Ahmed Belal, said: “The inspectors are closely monitoring the factories and the situation is satisfactory so far. With cooperation from everyone, the workers will be able to celebrate the Eid properly.”
The government, in response to an earlier request by the BGMEA, has also allocated 171 buses for RMG workers to ensure their safe journey home.
Among these buses, 151 will depart from Gazipur area and 20 from Chattogram on August 9 to destinations across the country.
One of the largest Muslim religious festivals, Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated on August 12.
