Thousands of workers in the country's various industrial zones, including those of textile and readymade garment (RMG) factories under the Industrial Police (IP) jurisdiction, were yet to receive due wages and festival allowances until Thursday.
Garment workers of a number of factories, including TNZ Group, continued their protests in front of Srama Bhaban at Bijoy Nagar in the capital on Thursday, demanding Eid bonuses and unpaid wages.
Ashraful Islam, a worker of TNZ Apparels Ltd, along with hundreds of workers of the factory and other units under the group staged demonstrations in front of Srama Bhaban at around 7:00pm.
He told The Financial Express he is yet to get any announcement about when wages and other payments will be cleared.
"Workers of Apparels Eco, a concern of TNZ Group, got two instalments of their January wages, but we are yet to receive anything," he also said.
Some 2,000 workers of TNZ Apparels are owed wages for February and 20 days of March, as well as festival allowances, Islam added.
When asked, Nazmul Mia, an operator at Apparels Eco, said he received Tk 12,700 in two instalments out of his total January wage of Tk 15,400. He said he is uncertain about receiving the wages for February and March, as well as festival allowances.
Meanwhile, Ram Prashad Sing, a worker at Stylecraft, died while observing wage protests on March 23. Workers of the
factory said he suddenly became sick during the protests in front of Srama Bhaban and the doctor announced him dead after he was taken to hospital.
Sanjoy, brother of Ram Prashad, said he is yet to receive any information about when Stylecraft would clear the payments.
According to Industrial Police data, 122 textile and RMG factories out of 2,900 listed with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), and Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) were yet to pay February wages until Thursday.
On the other hand, hundreds of workers of some 30 units listed with the apparel sector trade bodies did not get January wages, while 541 factories were yet to clear festival allowances, according to data.
Besides, some 608 factories paid either half or full wages for March in advance.
Meanwhile, the government announced it would impose travel bans on the owners of 12 garment factories if they fail to pay workers' outstanding wages, benefits, and other compensations.
A total of 2,465 units out of 9,695 under the jurisdiction of Industrial Police, including RMG and non-RMG ones like jute, were yet to pay festival allowances, while some 2,471 factories or 25.49 per cent paid March wages, until Thursday, data shows.
Besides, about 7.0 per cent or 686 factories announced Eid holidays on Thursday.
Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain on Thursday told a press briefing about Tk 12.33 million has been given to the workers of Roar Fashion from the RMG central fund and such measure could not be extended to other factories.
"Paying the workers is the responsibility of the owner, who has gone into hiding," he said, adding the home ministry is set to issue a warrant against the owner and necessary action would be taken through Interpol.
Regarding workers of TNZ Group, including TNZ Fashions and Apparels Eco, Hussain said they would be paid by selling company cars.
He also said the central bank has released Tk 110 million in cash incentives for two Mahmud Group factories so that they can pay their workers.
As for Stylecraft and Yangwang BD workers, the adviser said they would hold a meeting on Thursday to settle the wage issue.
Munni_fe@yahoo.com
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