‘100pc BGMEA member factories paid salary, Eid bonus to workers’

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has said all readymade garments (RMG) factories under the organisation have paid a festival allowance of Eid-ul-Fitr to workers alongside their wages.

He also said, "100 per cent of the factories have given festival allowances and advance salaries for April 2022 to the workers as per the decision of the government. Eid holidays have been provided in 100 per cent of the factories".

He thanked the RMG entrepreneurs for paying salary-bonus to the workers despite having many difficulties, reports BSS citing a press release.

The BGMEA president said, "As per the directions of the prime minister; the  home minister and the state minister for labour, factory owners have staggered holidays zone-wise on different dates, resulting in less pressure of traffic on the highways than on previous occasions, as per media reports."

He thanked the government for taking various steps, especially managing the construction works of the development projects without interrupting vehicular movement flow, to reduce traffic congestion on the highway and ensure easy and safe travel of garment workers during the Eid holidays.

He also requested the government to complete the development projects in the shortest possible time to accelerate the economic growth of the country.

Faruque thanked Bangladesh Bank for keeping banking services open on April 29 and April 30, at the request of BGMEA, to facilitate payment of garment workers' salaries, festival allowances and export-import activities.

He thanked the National Board of Revenue for keeping custom houses open during holidays from April 29 to May 4 (except Eid day) to facilitate export-import activities.

He also thanked the Textile Department of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) for keeping services open on the weekend of April 30 for the interests of the RMG sector.

He said that as the Covid situation is better this year than that in the last two years hence more workers are going home to celebrate Eid with their families this year.

"We wish every worker and factory owner would reach home safely and celebrate Eid with their families," he added.

The BGMEA president urged all homebound people, including garment workers to follow health safety guidelines rules, including wearing masks.