Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Thursday directed all the RMG factory owners to pay the wages and Eid bonus of their workers in time.He came up with the directive during a special meeting on the upcoming Eid-ul- Fitr at the Secretariat.”The owners must clear their wages by June 10 and bonus by June 14,” he said adding that the owners can seek police protection to carry their money, if necessary.During the meeting, representatives from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and eight other organisations were also present.The minister also said this year the workers will be able to celebrate Eid properly.As the RMG industry witnessed a 9.37 percent growth this year, he expects that they can achieve the $30- billion export target.Tofail also said American and European buyers’ groups, Accord and Alliance, which is working to improve workplace safety in Bangladesh readymade garment sector, will leave Bangladesh in January next year.BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman assured the minister that the workers’ wages will be cleared by June 10 and bonus by June 14.
