EPZ units told to pay workers by next week

Authorities of the factories in the country's eight export processing zones (EPZs) have been directed to pay wages and allowances to their workers before the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.

The Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) recently instructed the factory authorities to pay wages and festival allowances to the workers by next week so that they could celebrate the Eid happily with their family members, said a high official.

The BEPZA authorities directed the factory owners to disburse the payment as early as possible while meeting with the executives and representatives of the factories in the EPZ enclaves last week.

"The workers will get both wages and allowances in accordance with the new wage scale which came into effect from December 1, 2013," said the official. The government in November last announced a new wage structure featuring Tk 5,300 as the minimum monthly salary for readymade garment (RMG) workers.