Eid holiday approaching51pc industries yet to clear March wages

Workers will get monthly wages and bonuses before factories go on Eid holidays -- industries previously agreed upon the decision taken by the government.

But the reality does not go with the promise as more than half, or 51 percent, garment and textile factories outside Dhaka metropolis across the industrial belts are yet to clear March salaries.

Only 49 percent of garment and textile factories outside Dhaka city paid March wages as of Monday, according to Industrial Police data. However, around 81 per cent of the factories have already paid Eid bonuses.

Industrial Police data shows that 1,766 industrial units out of a total of 9,469 had not paid the festival allowance by Monday evening.

The data covers 9,469 factories under the Industrial Police's jurisdiction. By Monday evening, 4,620 factories had paid March wages, and 7,703 had paid the festival allowance.

These factories are located in six Industrial Police zones: Ashulia, Gazipur, Chattogram, Narayanganj, Mymensingh and Khulna.

Among registered members, some 920 factories with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 435 knitwear factories with the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and 170 textile mills with the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) are yet to pay March wages.

A total of 76 Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) units and 18 jute mills also have not paid March wages. The Industrial Police data also lists 3,230 non-garment manufacturing units that have not paid March wages.

Regarding the festival allowance, 181 BGMEA members, 144 BKMEA members, 26 BTMA mills, nine BEPZA units, 10 jute mills and 1,396 non-garment manufacturing units listed with the Industrial Police did not pay the allowance.

An Industrial Police official told The Financial Express that many factories are expected to make payments today (Tuesday).

The official said some factories announced the Eid holiday after making partial wage payments, having discussions with their workers beforehand. Around 100 factories have a history of irregular wage and allowance payments.

According to Industrial Police data, some 1325 textile and garment factories out of 2957 under its jurisdiction announced the Eid holiday while 29 will remain open with an additional six remaining partially open.

Some 114 textile and garment factories remained shut for several reasons.

Some 3381 factories including jute mills and non-RMG announced the Eid holiday on Monday while 116 units would remain open and some 71 will remain partially open, according to police data.