Garment owners seek banks' help to pay salaries, bonuses

FE Team | Published: October 11, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report
Garment factory owners sought cooperation from the banks to solve the problem of salary and bonus payment to the garment workers within the stipulated timeframe set by the government.
Earlier, the government urged the factory owners to pay the due salary of the garment workers within today (Thursday).
"The factory owners are ready to pay the salary and bonus to the workers within the stipulated time set by the government. But it will be a problem for the factory owners as many banks will not be able to provide fund due to higher demand of cash ahead of the Eid festival," said vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Salam Murshidi.
He said many factory owners have already paid the salary and bonus to the workers and many are on the process to pay their workers maintaining the deadline given by the government.
He said some factory owners who have no work orders and became sick due to some problems might not be able to pay their workers within the timeframe.
Earlier, the BGMEA leaders urged the government to give cash subsidy of at least Tk 10.0 million to the sick industry owners on zonal basis for giving bonus before the Eid and other annual festivals.
"At least 50 per cent of the total garment item is exported from Savar, Ashulia and Mauna zones. So, the government could give cash subsidy to the financially weak factory owners located in these zones," he said.
On the other hand, when asked secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Ashfaque Hamid said the ministry has been observing the situation very seriously.
"The ministry has already talked with the factory owners and labour leaders in this connection. The factory owners have said they will try their best to pay the salary and bonus within the set timeframe," he said..
"Most of the factory owners have been paying salary and bonus to their workers. This is a positive attitude of the factory owners," a labour leader said.