Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has submitted a proposal to the Labour Ministry seeking fixation of festival bonus for employees of readymade garment sector to avert pre-Eid labour unrest. The BKMEA argued that there is no provision in the Wage Board of awarding festival bonuses but owners voluntarily provide allowances to workers and employees before Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. Thus, knit owners platform argued, the festival bonuses become charity work of the owners and it varies between 35-65 percent of basic pay factory to factory. Some receives low while some gets higher bonuses. The problem is the low bonus recipient workers become disappointed and it often leading to labour unrest that spread across factories before Eid. As result, the industry’s production being hampered, law and order deteriorates as well as common people suffers as workers took to street blocking traffic movement in protest. The BKMEA said the ministry of labour and employment is working to finalise a set of rules under the National Labour Act 2006 (Bangladesh Sromo Ain) as per recommendation of the International Labour Organisation and the issue of fixing festival bonus may be include in the rules. While commenting over the proposal of fixation of festival bonuses on Monday, BKMEA president A.K.M Salim Osman said all the BKMEA members have discussed the issue and unanimously decided to propose to the government about this. “We have sent the proposal. Getting response may take some time. I hope that structured festival allowance for workers and employees will bring positive results in preventing labour unrest. And, it is possible when the government ensures medical allowances, conveyance, leave benefit and house rent for them in wage board,” he said.
