More than 60 per cent apparel factories missed the Sunday deadline, set by the labour ministry and apparel sector leaders, for the payment of festival allowances to the workers. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufactures and Exporters Association leaders at a meeting with state minister for labour and employment M Mujibul Haque on September 15 had committed to pay workers’ festival allowances by September 20. Labour leaders and industrial police source said that as of Sunday, more than 60 per cent factories did not pay festival allowances to the workers and most of them promised to pay the allowances day before closing the factory for Eid holiday. Industrial police sources said that there were 758 apparel factories in Dhaka and Ashulia and only 31.27 per cent of them paid festival allowances till Sunday. Source said that 44.41 per cent of 881 apparel factories in Gazipur zone, 12.54 per cent of 630 factories in Chittagong zone and 20 per cent of 850 apparel factories in Narayanganj paid festival allowances by Sunday. Intelligence sources said that they feared unrest at Beximco Industrial Park in Gazipur as the festival allowances of about 8,000 workers for 2013 and 2014 were yet to be paid. The workers of SS Fashions, New Dhaka, IKEL-1, BTL and Yellow staged demonstrations on the premises of industrial park on September 17 and the authority promised to pay the dues on September 23, intelligence sources said. Industrial police sources said that they feared unrest at Miaccel Industries, Zara Knit, Dhaka Dying, Knit Avenue, MRL Dress, Urmi Knit, ZS Pena’s Sweater, Needle to Knit, Zawad Fashions, Labous Colour Printing, Ambro Style, Familiar Knitwear, HN Knit, Monowara Spinning, Novelty Swatter, MI Yang Dying and Barat Sweater at Gazipur for allowances and wages. Sources said that there were 88 factories in Narayangonj where unrest might erupt. Inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Syed Ahmed said that more than 1,000 of factories remained under close monitoring of the department. He said that some factories deferred the payment, but workers were yet to file any complain as owners set further date for payment consulting the workers. Former Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice-president Mohammed Hatem hoped that no untoward situation would take place in the sector ahead of Eid. He said that factory authorities would make payment until day before closing in consultation with the workers.
