Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Wednesday claimed that its all member factories but seven have already paid the salary and allowances, including bonus, to their workers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The BGMEA assured that the problems over salary and allowances of the seven factories would be resolved by Wednesday as it continued its frantic efforts.
As of 4pm today (Wednesday), out of 3200 BGMEA member factories across the country, only four to seven garment factories face problems to provide salary and allowances to their workers, said BGMEA president Atiqul Islam at a press conference at BGMEA Bhaban in the capital.
Of the seven factories, four face problems as their workers demanded payment of salary for 10 days of the current month while the rest three over bonus complications, he said.
“Out of 3200 factories, 4-7 still facing problems are quite negligible figure. We believe that the problems of the factories will be solved within next 3 to 4 hours,” the BGMEA president said replying to a query.
The BGMEA formed nine regional committees comprising its director and officials and factory owners to ensure the disbursement of salary and allowance for the readymade garment workers in Dhaka so that they can celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with joy.
Besides, 15 monitoring committees were formed and the round-the-clock control room was opened to monitor RMG factories.
The control room will remain open in two shifts, even on the Eid, day to ensure the payment of the workers’ dues, he said.
This year, a total of 927 factories were enlisted and brought under BGMEA’s close monitoring following the reports of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Industrial Police, intelligent agencies, the ministry concerned and BGMEA.
The trade body leaders will exchange Eid greetings and award Eid gifts to the victims of Rana Plaza collapse, undergoing treatment at CRP and Enam Medical Hospital at Savar on the outskirt of the capital on the Eid day.
The BGMEA delegation will meet 76 severely injured RMG workers, including 25 amputated persons at CRP around 11am and later they will meet victims undergoing treatment at Enam Medical.
The BGMEA leader urged the government to make their workers’ journey safe ensuring that there is no overloading of passengers in buses, trains and launches.
Asked, Atiqul Islam said there is neither government fund nor BGMEA one to solve such problems over salary and allowances ahead of the Eid.
The readymade garment factories will mostly reopen on August 15, 16 and 17 after the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Responding to another query whether there is any specific policy to fix Eid bonus, he said there is no standard of bonus in the labour law. “But providing bonus ahead of Eid has become a tradition. The factory owners try best to give maximum bonus,” he added.
BGMEA vice presidents Shahidullah Azam, SM Mannan (Kochi) and Reaz-Bin Mahmud were, among others, present at the press conference.
Source: UNBConnect
