Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said all garment factories paid salaries and bonuses to their workers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
“100 percent of the factories have given festival allowances and advance salaries for the month of April 2022 to the workers as per the decision of the government. Workers in all factories will also go on Eid holidays,” said BGMEA President Faruque Hassan.He thanked the RMG entrepreneurs for paying salaries and bonuses to their workers despite having many difficulties.
BGMEA president also said the factories tried to ensure that the garment workers could celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones.
He expressed thanks to all concerned including workers, owners, law enforcement agencies, and labour leaders for extending their support and cooperation in this regard.
Faruque Hassan said, “As per the directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Home Minister and State Minister for Labour and Employment, the factory owners suggested zone-wise holidays on different dates. This will reduce pressure on traffic on the highways.”
Eid holidays started in garment factories from last Wednesday and garment workers were leaving the workplaces for their homes. BGMEA president hoped that all the garment factories would go on holidays by today.
He thanked the government for taking various steps, especially managing the construction work of the development projects without interrupting vehicular movement flow, reducing traffic congestion on the highway and ensuring easy and safe travel of garment workers during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.He also requested the government to complete the development projects within the shortest possible time to accelerate the economic growth of the country.
Faruque Hassan expressed hope that the completion of the development projects would significantly improve traffic situation on the highways and people would be able to travel more smoothly.
He thanked Bangladesh Bank for keeping banking services open on 29 April and 30 April, at the request of BGMEA, to facilitate payment of garment workers’ salaries, festival allowances and export-import activities.
He also thanked the National Board of Revenue for keeping custom houses open during holidays on 29 April to 4 May (except Eid day) to facilitate export-import activities.
He also thanked the Textile Department of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) for keeping services open on the weekend on April 30 for the interests of the RMG sector.
BGMEA chief also expressed thanks to the Chittagong Port Authority for keeping the port activities operational 24/7 before and after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
He said that as the Covid-19 situation is better this year than that of in the last two years, more workers are going home to celebrate Eid with their families.
He said, “We wish every worker and owner reach home safely and celebrate Eid with their families.”
The BGMEA president urged all homebound people including garment workers to follow health safety guidelines and rules including wearing masks.
He requested the government authorities concerned to intensify monitoring to ensure that buses, trains and launches plying on different routes do not carry extra passengers so they can avoid any untoward incidents on the way home during Eid.
