The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday, a day before the holy Eid-ul-Azha, claimed that all wages up to May have been paid to their workers to let them enjoy a joyous Eid with their near and dear ones.
In a media release signed by its Secretary General by Md Faizur Rahman, the industrial body thanked authorities concerned including ministers of commerce, home, road transport and bridges, shipping, minister for labour and employment, department of inspection for factories and establishments, various law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies for their cooperation in paying the wages and benefits to workers.
The release said that 100 per cent of salary has been paid to the workers of 1835 factories in Dhaka and 325 in Chattogram.
Moreover, almost all the factories are providing the festival allowance while a process is underway in four factories, with payments expected to be completed on Saturday.
According to BGMEA, there is no information about any remaining unpaid wages or benefits.
Responding to the government’s call and BGMEA’s request, garment factories have been granting leave to workers progressively from Thursday, completing the process by Saturday.
The industrial body also thanked Bangladesh Bank governor and managing directors of the scheduled banks for keeping the branches open in garment industry-related areas during government holidays to facilitate the payment of wages and benefits before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
The BGMEA also expressed gratitude to Export Promotion Bureau, Chittagong Port, Chittagong Customs House, ICD Kamalapur, Dhaka Customs, Mongla Customs, Benapole Customs, Pangaon Customs House, and the Customs Bond Commissionerate offices in Dhaka and Chattogram as well as the customs houses and related ports, banks, and other stakeholder institutions for keeping their operations running on government holidays.
This support helps keep the import-export activities of the export-oriented garment industry and the country’s export trade functioning smoothly.
