About 14.65 per cent or 1,500 factory units out of a total of 10,238 factories haven’t paid the festival allowances ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha, according to the Industrial Police data published on Monday.
The IP data indicated that as of Monday afternoon, a total of 8,738 factory units across various IP zones had cleared the festival allowances for Eid-ul-Azha, scheduled to be celebrated on May 28.
Moreover, 10,076 or about 98 per cent factory units across the country have cleared the wages of April as of Monday, said the IP data.
The IP data also said that out of 1,790 factories under the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, 1,570 or 88 per cent of the factories have already cleared festival allowance, while the remaining 220 factories are yet to pay.
However, according to the BGMEA’s own data, 2,034 factories, or about 97 per cent of the 2,134 operational factories under its jurisdiction, have paid the festival allowances, while only 75 units are yet to pay the allowance. Meanwhile, 1,243 factories paid May wages in advance.
According to the IP data, out of 708 operational factories under the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, 582 factory units or 82 per cent distributed the festival allowance to their workers.
325 factories or 85 per cent of 382 units under the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association paid the festival allowances as of Monday, said the IP data.
About 98 per cent or 384 factory units out of 390 factories situated inside the various zones under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority have cleared the festival allowances.
Out of 6,892 factories of various trades, 5,807 or 84 per cent of factory units paid the festival allowance, meaning about 1,085 factories haven’t paid the festival allowances yet, said the IP data.
Regarding wages for April, 1,743, or 97 per cent, of the 1,790 factory units under the BGMEA cleared wages, though BGMEA data stated that 2,123 of 2,134 factory units had cleared April wages.
680 factory units or about 96 per cent of 708 under the BKMEA paid the wages of April, while 367 factories or 96 per cent of the 382 units under the BTMA cleared April wages.
Over 99 per cent or 388 factory units out of 390 factories under BEPZA have paid the wages for the month of April to its workers.
Out of 6,892 factories of various trades, 6,823 or 99 per cent of factory units paid the April wages as of Monday afternoon, said the IP data.
On May 20, the Industrial Police held a meeting with representatives from the BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMA, BEPZA, and government agencies, during which the IP urged businesses to pay wages and allowances on time to maintain order and discipline at the country’s industrial hubs.
Last month, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury urged factory owners to settle workers› wages and bonuses within May 21.
