Most of the workers of readymade garments sector haven’t received their salaries and bonuses yet despite they have been working during the lockdown, risking their lives.
The garment sector was provided with a loan of Tk 10,500 crore last year by the government so that they could pay the workers’ wages for April to July. Initially the amount was supposed to be repaid within two years with six months’ moratorium facility. However, later it was extended for another six months at the request of the owners.
Many workers are yet to receive the salary and bonus of Eid-ul-Azha only a day away.
BGMEA Vice-President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury claimed that almost all the factories have paid the due salaries of the workers.
He told Bangladesh Post that their salaries have been paid, and bonuses will be paid by Monday (today).
“We have been given directions from the Ministry of Labour to pay the salary and bonus by today and we are trying to follow that”, he said.
Garment factory owners sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 15th July and requested to keep apparel factories out of the lockdown purview like before, during the post-eid strict lockdown.
They mentioned in the letter that the export income of the garment sector has increased by 28.25 percent in June this year as compared to June last year and the export income of this sector was $167 million in the first 14 days of the current financial year.
However, many workers are responsible for this increased export income. They are working during the lockdown risking their lives but they have not received their fair wages yet.
Shahnaz Aktar, worker of a local garment factory in Savar, told Bangladesh Post, “We have been given assurance that we will get our bonus Monday. Last time, we received our bonus a day before Eid-ul-Fitr.”
Dr Nazneen Ahmed, country economist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and senior research fellow of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) told Bangladesh Post that a large number of factories try to pay the salaries and bonus on time. Other factories should also try to follow the good examples.
“As bonus is involved with salary during Eid, many factories sometime fail to provide it on time due to various reasons including delay in payment. However, the salary and bonus of workers should not depend on these due payments. Their salaries should be ensured first. The government gives importance to the garments sector but more importance should be given to the workers as this sector depends on them” she said.
She also said that the delay in paying workers’ salary and bonus takes place due to lack of preparation of the factory owners. According to labour law, the salaries of workers have to be paid within the first seven days of the month.
Amirul Haque Amin, president of National Garments Workers Federation told Bangladesh Post that many factories haven’t paid the bonus yet.
“We fear that some factories might not pay the bonus before Eid. The workers are passing tough time due to distress and uncertainty”, he added.