actories across the country are set to close their doors from April 20 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, but at least 3,450 factories – 35.88 per cent – are yet to pay festival bonuses, and 497 factories did not pay March salary to their workers.
Data from the Industrial Police revealed on Wednesday that there are 9,616 factories operating in Bangladesh – excluding the Dhaka metropolitan area, and 9,099 factories or 94.82 per cent paid March salary.
Meanwhile, 6,166 factories paid Eid bonuses, which is 64.12 per cent of the total factories.
When calculated on the basis of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) factories, Industrial Police data shows that till April 19, over 91 per cent or 1,490 such factories paid March wages.
There are a total of 1,631 BGMEA factories, and of the figure, 878 or 53.83 per cent of factories cleared Eid-ul-Fitr bonuses.
The BGMEA however claims that 98.84 per cent of their factories have cleared their wages for March this year until April 19. It also says that 90 per cent of their factories have cleared their Eid bonuses.
Calculated on the basis of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Industrial Police data shows that there are 700 BKMEA factories and 621 or 88.71 per cent have cleared the March wages, and 467 or 66.71 per cent paid Eid bonuses.
Moreover, among 358 Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) factories, 335 or 93.58 per cent have cleared their wages for the month of March, whereas 192 factories or 53.63 per cent have cleared Eid bonuses.
Regarding factories under Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA), 344 factories out of 345 or 99.71 per cent paid workers’ wages for the month of March. Until April 19, 327 factories or 94.78 per cent have paid Eid bonuses to their workers, Industrial Police data show.
On Monday, the finance ministry released Tk 1,000 crore cash incentive for Bangladesh's export-oriented knitwear sector as financial support for payment of salary and Eid bonuses ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
