Though RMG industry plays a significant role in earning lion share of foreign currency, a large number of workers, who switched from one factory to another to enjoy better facilities, are still being deprived of festival bonus. Many factory owners this time have declined to pay the bonus raising an absurd issue that the workers must fulfill one year of job duration at the respective factories. As there is no specific guideline in the government declared wage structure on paying festival bonus to the workers, many factory owners are taking the advantage, depriving the workers of their festival bonus in the name of compulsion of completing one-year tenure, workers’ leaders alleged. Sources inside the industry said a large number of workers switched from one factory to another to enjoy more facility, including an increased wages and job security round the year. But before two festivals — Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, the workers do not get their festival bonus as the festivals usually come before one year of their employment at the factories. A worker, who switched from Zemtex Linkage Industries Limited in Pubail, Gazipur to Ducaty Apparels Limited in Ashulia last January, told daily sun that he will not get any festival bonus during this Eid-ul-Fitr as he is yet to fulfill one-year employment period. It was learnt that Docuty Apparel will not pay festival bonus to its employees who do not have one year of job in the factory. Not only Ducaty Apparel Limited owner, but also most of the factory owners exercise the norms, depriving hundreds of workers of the bonus. Sirajul Islam Rony, President of Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League who was also member of minimum wage board formed to settle minimum wages of the garment workers, told daily sun that he on behalf of the workers urged the board to include the payment of bonus to the wage structure, but his urge went in vain. The workers, who switched from one factory to another, are being deprived of getting festival bonus due to having no specific policy in this regard. He also alleged the workers, who are employed on target basis, are also deprived of festival bonus on the same ground. He also urged the government to make provision of festival bonus in wage stricture. Siraj also informed that around 5 to 8 percent workers usually switch from one factory to another round the year seeking better job opportunity. Arshad Jamal Dipu, Director of BGMEA who represented owners at the wage board, said owners usually pay the workers the amount they get as basic salary. Declining the allegation, Dipu said the owners pay a respectable amount to the workers who are yet to fill the one year employment period.
