Garment workers will receive their monthly wages for May by June 10 and festival allowance before the Eid holidays in their respective factories.
Besides, they might receive partial payment for June if factory owners and workers can reach a consensus on the issue through negotiations.
The crisis management core committee headed by state minister for labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu took the decisions at its 36th meeting at the secretariat in the city on Tuesday.
The government formed the committee in 2013 to monitor the labour situation in all industrial sectors, including readymade garment (RMG), and address labour grievances.
"Usually monthly wages is paid within the seven working days of the next month. But we met today (Tuesday) to ensure that they (workers) get the monthly wages and festival allowance in time ahead of Eid," said the minister.
It has been decided that monthly wages for May must be paid by June 10, he added.
Eid holidays would start in different industrial areas phase by phase and the festival allowance must be paid before the closure of the factories, the minister said.
He, however, set a tentative date of June 14 in this regard.
Labour leaders, however, demanded the payment of both wages and the festival allowance by June 10.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Md Siddiqur Rahman requested the minister not to announce anything specifying the time of the wage payment for June.
"Eid holidays are expected to begin from mid-June and workers cannot demand payment of wages for that month legally," he added.
The meeting was informed that a total of 15 BGMEA teams are closely monitoring its 1200 member factories, so that no labour unrest can take place.
United Trousers and Badhon Corporations Ltd. at Ashulia, Chungi Knit at Badda, Ashiana Garments Ltd. at Rampura, Nine Angle Garments Ltd. at Gazipur, Raina Garments and Anika Garments at Mirpur are among the units vulnerable to labour unrest.
Siddiqur Rahman, however, assured that they are taking necessary measures to avert any untoward incidents before the Eid.
Additional DIG of Intelligence and Special Affairs at Police Headquarters Moniruzzaman said they have listed some 200 RMG units where labour unrest might take place over payment of monthly wages.
Factory owners, regardless of their ability to pay, should give wages in time, he said.
"We have specific information that artificial crisis might be created over payment of wages and other allowances," he said.
Additional inspector general of Industrial Police (IP) Abdus Salam said some 7557 industrial units, including jute, RMG, textile and re-rolling mills, are under the purview of IP.
"But the meeting only focuses on RMG sector," he said.
He also requested the minister to take necessary measures so that workers serving in jute, re-rolling mills and other industries also get their wages and festival allowance in time.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice-president Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments inspector general Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan and labour leaders Roy Ramesh Chandra, Sirajul Islam Rony and Lima Ferdous also attended the meeting.
[email protected]
