More than 98% of garment factories under Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have paid salaries and bonuses to their workers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, said its president Faruque Hassan. “Workers of rest of the factories will get their wages and bonuses by Wednesday,” he said during a virtual press conference today. During the briefing, it has been said that 1,913 factories remain in operation under BGMEA. Among those,1,866 factories paid wages of the last month till Tuesday, which stood at 97.54%. At the same time, Eid bonuses were given in 1,882 factories, which stood at 99%. Faruque Hassan further said, “15 factories of Dhaka are yet to pay the wage for the month of April and eight factories are yet to pay bonuses in the capital. They will pay it today.” When asked about the workers’ resentment over three days of Eid holiday, he said, “Normally the Eid holidays are of three days in the garment sector. Three days’ leave has been given as per government instructions. Some employers gave more holidays after coordinating leave.”
