As the country's export sector, including textiles and ready-made garments, is going through a difficult time, businessmen have sought an additional Tk 1,600 crore along with the 4th tranche of cash incentives of Tk 1,400 crore.
On June 6, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) sent a letter to the Senior Secretary of Finance Division under the Ministry of Finance in this regard.
Traders of the export sector, including export-oriented textiles and ready-made garments, have sought this money to pay wages and festival bonuses to workers before Eid. They say that due to the decrease in export orders, the companies are facing difficulties in paying workers’ wages and allowances.
According to the letter, the global economy is facing headwinds due to Russia-Ukraine war. As a result, the country’s export industry is struggling for survival. Most of the factories don’t have enough work orders due to the global recession and are running at half of their production capacity.
As the buyers are not paying export bills on time, it has become difficult for them to pay the workers’ wages at the month-end, the letter reads.
Huge pressure is on the owners to pay the current month's wage and Eid bonus, it said, adding that failure to pay wages and bonuses to workers on time can lead to labour unrest. Under these circumstances, they sought financial help.
BKMEA is seeking assistance for the export sector in addition to the 4th instalment of cash incentives of Tk 1,400 crore for the current fiscal year to pay the workers’ wages and bonuses before Eid-ul-Azha. The export sector may face a serious crisis if financial assistance is not provided by the government.
BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Hatem in the letter requested the government for financial assistance, saying that the export sector is going through a tough time due to the global economic crisis. Due to the ongoing global recession, most of the factories are running at 50-60 per cent capacity.
Businessmen are under pressure to pay wages and Eid bonus this month, he said, adding that in such situation, it will be very difficult to cope with this pressure without the cooperation of the government.
