Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) wants Tk 1,500 crore in assistance from the government to pay workers' bonuses and salaries in all export-oriented sectors ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
It has claimed that the export-oriented sectors may fall in a dire strait if financial assistance is not provided to help pay the workers before Eid.
The knitwear factory owners' association sent a letter, signed by BKMEA President AKM Salim Osman, on March 30 in this regard to the senior secretary at the Finance Division of the Finance Ministry.
Commenting on the issue, BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Hatem said, “We are in a financial crisis due to low export orders caused by the ongoing global economic crisis. Amid the situation, the government disbursed Tk 1,500 crore despite pledging Tk 2,500 crore in incentive for the second quarter of this fiscal year.”
“Besides, the government disbursed Tk 2,000 crore instead of Tk 2,500 crore as an incentive for the third quarter of FY2022-23. We urge the government to disburse the rest Tk 1,500 crore as it will help us pay wages and Eid bonus amid the financial crisis,” he added.
The global economy is in an adverse situation due to the Russia-Ukraine war and as a result, Bangladesh's export sector is going through a challenging time, the letter also said.
Due to the ongoing global recession, most factories do not have enough work orders, so production is running at 50-60 per cent capacity. It has become difficult to pay the workers' salaries at the end of the month, BKMEA mentioned in the letter.
International buyers are also not paying their dues on time for the products already being exported and that has added to the pressure regarding payment of salaries and Eid bonus this month, the letter added.
Under the circumstances, it will be very difficult to handle this pressure without the cooperation of the government and the Finance Division, BKMEA said.
