Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
About 66.83 per cent, out of 9683 industrial units, under the Industrial Police jurisdiction except Dhaka Metropolitan area, could not clear festival allowances until Saturday, a deadline set by the government.
Some 3,212 units, including textile and readymade garment factories, so far, paid festival allowances, according to IP data.
Earlier on May 28, the interim government at a Tripartite Consultative Committee meeting asked factory owners to pay festival allowances by May 31 and monthly wages for May by June 03.
According to the IP data, out of the 9,683 units, some 786 factories or 8.12 per cent already paid monthly wages for May.
The remaining 8,897 or about 92 per cent factories did not pay May wages. According to the labour law, monthly wages must be paid within seven working days of next month.
Law enforcement agencies earlier identified some 198 garment factories in various industrial zones at risk of facing labour unrest as they may fail to pay wages and festival allowances before the Eid.
Citing the government's decision, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in a circular asked all its members to pay festival allowances by May 31 and monthly wages for May by June 03.
"But, if necessary, wages for the month of May could be paid before the Eid holiday starts, considering the production and shipment, following discussions with their respective workers," according to the notification.
According to the BGMEA, some 2,092 factories listed with the trade body are in operation.
Some 750 factories, out of 2092, did not pay festival allowances until Thursday, data showed.
Two factories, located in Gazipur, did not pay wages for the month of March until Thursday, while 19 factories did not pay wages for the month of April.
On May 20, the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) clarified that the workers and employees of factories and other industrial establishments would enjoy Eid-ul-Azha holiday as per the labour law. Confusions gripped the workers over holiday following the government's announcement of a 10-day Eid vacation for public employees.
Regarding the Eid holiday, BGMEA in its circular advised its members to announce Eid holiday for a maximum of 10 days, after discussion with their respective workers, adjusting general duty/earned leave with pre-set Eid holiday and weekly holiday.
munni_fe@yahoo.com