Workers’ salaries and bonuses to be paid before Eid holidays

Labor and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said that the outstanding salaries and bonuses of workers in all industrial establishments in the country must be paid before the Eid holidays. All concerned should be vigilant so that no complications arise regarding the outstanding salaries of workers in any situation. The minister said this at a high-level meeting to determine what to do to resolve worker dissatisfaction in the ready-made garment and other industrial sectors at the official residence of Labor Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury on Bailey Road in Dhaka today (March 14).
He said that a list of risky factories will be prepared based on the relevant parliamentary constituencies and sent to the concerned members of parliament. The members of parliament will talk directly to the factory authorities and take necessary measures for the prompt payment of outstanding salaries and bonuses. He also directed banks, including UCBL, Trust and Premier Bank, which have been delaying loan disbursement, to ensure prompt loan arrangements.
The minister said that local parliamentarians and the administration should keep a close watch on labor leaders who are trying to create chaos in the industrial sector by agitating workers for no reason. Ordering to prepare a list of absconding owners and their organizations, he said that everyone should be vigilant so that no kind of chaos or unpleasant incident takes place in these factories.
The minister assured that all the officials and employees of the Ministry of Labor and Employment are always ready for any cooperation. He firmly pledged to always stand by the workers to protect their interests. In the meeting, Prime Minister’s Advisor Mahdi Amin said, “We will reopen the closed factories on priority within 180 days of the formation of the government.”
He also said that the Prime Minister has strict instructions to work to solve the problems of the workers through strict monitoring. At the meeting, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said that 2,127 factories are operating in Dhaka and Chittagong, of which 1,964 (92.34%) factories have paid February salaries and 1,535 (72.17%) factories have paid Eid bonuses.
He also said that it is not mandatory to pay March salaries, only those who can afford it will pay, but many are motivating workers to pay March salaries. BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said at the meeting that 512 factories out of 834 factories in the country have paid February salaries and 604 factories have paid Eid bonuses.
He said that since most factories have paid salaries and bonuses, I hope there will be no worker dissatisfaction. Abdur Rahman Tarafdar, Secretary of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, said that if an emergency fund can be created, it will be possible to permanently solve the problems of workers with salaries and bonuses with that money.
Dhaka-19 MP Dr. Dewan Md. was present at the time. Salauddin, Dhaka-20 MP Tamiz Uddin and Gazipur district MP Mujibur Rahman (Gazipur-1), M Manjurul Karim Rony (Gazipur-2), SM Rafiqul Islam (Gazipur-3), Fazlul Haque Milon (Gazipur-5) and high-ranking government officials.