Industrial Police urges RMG owners to clear wages, allowances before Eid holidays

The Industrial Police today (1 June) urged the manufacturers of the country's readymade garment (RMG) and textile sector to clear wages and allowances of their workers before the start of Eid-ul-Adha holidays as per the government's decision.

They also urged the disbursement of Eid bonuses at the beginning of June and wages for May before the holidays. 

Speaking at a meeting with representatives from the RMG and textile sectors, and government agencies, they also called on workers to exhibit responsible behaviour regarding their wages, allowances and bonuses ahead of Eid.

"If the manufacturers pay wages and allowances of workers on time, the law-and-order situation in the industrial sector will be normal and the highways will also be safe," Md Mahbubur Rahman, additional IGP of Industrial Police, said at the meeting at Industrial Police headquarters in Dhaka.

The relevant authorities will take appropriate action against owners who stay abroad without paying workers on time, he added.

Ahead of the Eid, all forms of leave for the Industrial Police have been cancelled and all members are carrying out their responsibilities with professionalism and sincerity, he said.

Mahbubur said the Industrial Police have reviewed the current status of payment of wages of various factories.

Moreover, they have also identified factories as likely to have problems with payment of wages and bonuses and determined the way forwards by discussing owners, police and administration.

The specialised police unit requested the owners and authorities concerned to take proper measures if any factory unit fails to pay and urged them to decide on Eid holidays on the basis of owners-employee agreement. 

They urged owners to not retrench or lay off any worker before Eid without reasonable cause and also urged them to be aware so that no "evil forces" can deteriorate the law-and-order situation. 

Md Nasir Uddin, vice president of BGMEA, at the event said more benefits will be obtained if all related institutions work together and professionally. 

"BGMEA will take stricter action if any factory under the organisation fails to pay wages and bonus on time before Eid. There is no alternative to mutual coordination of all parties regarding the payment of wages and bonus to the workers in view of the upcoming Eid," he added.

According to officials present at the meeting, the Industrial Police will have special patrol duty in empty industrial hubs during the Eid holidays.

In the meeting, superintendents of police of all zones of the Industrial Police presented the overall picture of the industrial factories. 

The representatives of Bepza, DIFE, and DoL assured mutual cooperation with the Industrial Police to ensure the payment of salaries and allowances to the workers before Eid.