A total of 344 readymade garment factories have yet to pay bonuses ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the largest religious festivals for Muslims, set to be celebrated next week, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Factories were instructed to clear bonuses by the 20th of Ramadan and pay half of March’s salary before the Eid vacation.
RMG workers in Dhaka and Chattogram have protested over unpaid wages and benefits. At one factory, workers attacked officials at another facility over demands for a 10-day holiday in line with government officials’ Eid vacation.
BGMEA data shows that 83.67% of RMG factories – 1,543 in Dhaka and 220 in Chattogram – had cleared bonuses by 24 March, while 98.53% of operational factories had cleared February wages.
However, 84 factories have only paid part or no wages for March, with most stakeholders expecting these payments to be settled by the end of the week or before the Eid holidays.
According to a BGMEA official, 36 factories are at high risk of failing to meet wage, bonus, and allowance payments due to financial crises. Initially, intelligence agencies had estimated that up to 500 factories could face challenges during Eid.
Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said factory owners are working to pay workers in line with government directives.
While some are facing difficulties due to financial issues, he remains hopeful that all payments will be made before Eid, allowing workers to celebrate with their families.
Protests over unpaid dues
Several incidents of unrest occurred across industrial hubs. Workers at JMS Garments in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone blocked Airport Road, demanding unpaid wages and Eid bonuses.
At Roar Fashion in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, about 1,200 workers protested at the BGMEA Bhaban in Uttara, demanding three months’ wages and service benefits.
Around 250 workers initiated the blockade. Additionally, workers from TNZ Apparels in Gazipur blocked roads in Paltan, demanding unpaid wages and bonuses ahead of Eid.
Protests for extended Eid holidays
Workers from Sterling Designs, a Standard Group factory in Kaliakair, blocked the Dhaka-Tangail highway, demanding an extension of their Eid holiday.
In Narayanganj, workers from Fame Design attacked officials at Fame Apparel, demanding a 10-day holiday, similar to that of government officials.
BKMEA President Hatem reported that at least four officers were assaulted, with two needing hospitalisations. When production continued, workers turned violent and blocked the Ponchoboti intersection. The army intervened, arresting seven workers involved in the attack.
Fame Design Managing Director Masud Alam Kajol explained that the workers’ demands for a 10-day holiday were not applicable, and protests and disruptions had been ongoing for days.
