89pc RMG workers yet to bag bonus, 50pc April salary

Eighty-nine percent of the RMG workers yet to get bonus when 50 percent of the employers haven’t yet handed salaries of April to their employees even two days before Eid-ul-Fitr, says Industrial Police.

Despite Prime Minister’s announcement of stimulus package of Tk 5,000 crore for export-oriented industries and directives on paying the salary and bonus of workers, the owners are delaying in their payment.

Unpaid and aggrieved workers have been staging demonstration in and around the capital, demanding salaries and bonuses every day. Despite promises on sending salaries and bonuses through mobile bank accounts of the RMG workers, only 11 percent garment factories have paid bonus. Demonstrating workers shouting out slogans questioning about the stimulus package money. But RMG owners and bankers are playing the blame game over the disbursement of stimulus funds and once the bank procedure eases the workers will get their dues in time.

Earlier, in the wake of two-month-long lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic PM declared stimulus package of Tk 5000 crore to help the export-oriented industries. When the factories are asked to give salaries and bonus and not to lay off workers; still 3000 factories didn’t give salaries and other dues to their employees. Sick factories were also allowed to give 50 percent of bonus before Eid-ul-Fitr and adjust the rest of the bonus with the salaries of next six months. But on the ground, situation is totally seamy. Some are giving half of their bonus while some are taking to the streets being deprived of salary, bonus and overtime bills in arrears.

The deprived workers not only demonstrating but also resorting to vandalism in their workplaces, demanding their fair share of financial benefits. Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), which is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the implementation of PM-declared stimulus package of Tk 5000 crore, was caught napping in this situation.

According to the Industrial Police, 3258 out of 7602 RMG factories haven’t yet given salaries. The picture is grim when it comes to the question of giving bonuses as only 828 units of RMG industries have given festival bonus and most of them are located in Export Processing Zones. The rest (6,774 units) of garments factories are yet to give their bonus.

Of the 1882 Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) factories, 489 units haven’t cleared their payment.

Of the 1101 Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) members, 635 units haven’t paid while, of the 389 members, 168 units haven’t yet cleared their dues.

According to BKMEA, an association of Bangladesh knitwear industry owners, the organization has a total membership of 2,283 factories. Of these, 838 units are open, 61 units are closed, 767 units are open for export activities, 519 have applied for loans and 58 have been canceled. A total of 595 factories, including 285 in Narayanganj, 243 in Dhaka and 45 in Chattogram, paid their salaries in April. A total of 201 factories have given bonuses. Besides, a total of 347 factories have received loans. But 172 factories have not yet paid their April salaries.

Meanwhile, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Inspector General Shivnath Roy told The Business Post that the labour leaders had not complained to us. The situation is still normal. It has been agreed upon by all parties that the Eid bonus will be 50 percent but what can be done if the workers do not obey.

He also said despite allegations of factory layoffs at various times such incidents should not take place as the government has clear instructions that no factory will be laid off at this time. No workers will be fired. Even then, if there is any complaint against a factory, we will take legal action.

He also said DIFE is always monitoring the activities of the garment factories. Although the workers took to the streets, demanding their wages, no written complaint has been lodged by any of the workers' organisations till date.

Rather the officials on their own are visiting the trouble-torn factories and making arrangements to pay the workers by negotiating with the people concerned. The department has been monitoring the health of the workers since May 2. Several hundred factories are being inspected every day and the factories, which are found lacking health and other compliances, are being instructed to put things in place.

Sammilita Garments Sramik Federation President Nazma Akhter told The Business Post what to say about the industries that cannot pay one month's salary after 30 years of flourishing business and cannot give Eid bonus. “Do they not have the minimum humanity?” she questioned. Bangladesh’s garments make up 82% of the total exports on the back of ‘sweat shops’ and RMG industrial establishments flourished.

She also questioned, “If the factory owners can eat during this pandemic, if their children can eat, then why will the workers go hungry? Where has the profitable business gone as the industrialists have pocketed Tk 5000 crore soon after the lockdown imposed. But now they are playing hide and seek or playing blame game when the question of workers’ salary comes to.

National Garment Workers' League President Sirajul Islam Rony said such treatment of workers was not desirable. RMG workers have brought respect to the owners, made them rich and industrialists. Keeping workers’ welfare in mind, these industrialists should pay their April salaries and bonuses before Eid-ul-Fitr which is the biggest Muslim festival celebrated at the end of the holy Ramadan.

Meanwhile, Abdus Salam Murshedy, who is an MP and also member of the taskforce for the garment industry, told The Business Post that it was taking time on the part of banks to channel the money to workers’ account. The payment will be made for sure and money will be deposited in all of the workers’ mobile bank accounts before the festival.

He also said, the owners are trying hard to manage to send the money but they have nothing to do as banks are supposed to channel the funds.

ak/wi