Over 37pc factories in industrial zones miss payment deadline

Thousands of workers across Bangladesh's key industrial belts entered the Eid-ul-Azha holiday period facing uncertainty as a significant number of factories failed to clear festival allowances and April wages despite repeated government instructions and fresh cash support for exporters.

About 37 per cent, or 3,745 factories, under the jurisdiction of the Industrial Police (IP) across eight industrial zones in the country had yet to pay festival allowances until Sunday despite the government's directive to clear the dues by May 21.

Besides, more than 535 factories, including 155 textile and garment units, failed to pay April wages a day before the Eid-ul-Azha holiday began, according to IP data.

According to the Industrial Police, 10,238 factories are currently operating under its jurisdiction in eight industrial zones - Ashulia, Gazipur, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Khulna, Cumilla and Sylhet - excluding the Dhaka metropolitan area.

Of them, some 3,745 factories - including 1,126 textile and readymade garment (RMG) units and 2,619 non-RMG factories - had not paid festival allowances until Sunday, the data showed.

The rate of non-payment was highest in Gazipur, where 1,490 factories had yet to clear festival allowances, followed by 1,202 in Narayanganj, 339 in Ashulia and 311 in Chattogram.

According to IP data, more than 34 per cent, or 619 factories out of 1,790 listed with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), had yet to pay festival allowances.

Among factories registered with the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), 275 units, or 38.84 per cent of 708 factories, also failed to pay the allowances.

In addition, 216 member factories out of 382 under the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) had yet to clear festival allowance payments until Sunday.

The IP data also showed that 16 factories under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) had not paid festival allowances by Sunday.

Earlier, on May 14, Labour Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury instructed all factory owners at a meeting to pay festival allowances by May 21 and ensure timely monthly wage payments in line with labour laws to avert any untoward situation.

Munni_fe@yahoo.com