All 2,151 active garment factories in Dhaka and Chittagong under the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have cleared their wages for the month of March 2023, said a BGMEA official.
Moreover, among all factories under BGMEA, 2,145 (99.72%) also paid bonuses for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr to their workers.
In addition, 1,891 factories, or 87.91% are expected to clear the partial wages of April 2023, the BGMEA official added.
Regarding the Eid holidays, BGMEA officials said that 430 factories started holidays from April 18, 753 factories from April 19 and the rest 968 factories are expected to start holidays from April 20.
Regarding the wages for April, BGMEA officials said that the remaining 12% of factories will provide wages for April after Eid as per the discussion between the owners and the workers.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan expressed sincere thanks to all the entrepreneurs of the garment industry for their wholehearted efforts to ensure a happy Eid-ul-Fitr by making payments to workers despite having various difficulties.
He also extended thanks and gratitude to the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, the Commerce Ministry, the Home Minister, the Shipping Minister, the State Minister for Labour and Employment, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, labour leaders and journalists for their cooperation in ensuring that garment workers can happily celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones.
Earlier, BGMEA brought around 450 garment factories, which might face difficulties in paying their workers, under close monitoring and helped them in solving their problems.
With the direct intervention of BGMEA, payments to workers in 26 factories were ensured.
BGMEA held discussions with the workers, owners and federation leaders and the payment problems were resolved either by selling factories and machinery or talking to the banks concerned.
