Dhaka: Despite mounting pressures from the global economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions, and growing competition in international markets, garment entrepreneurs have successfully ensured the payment of wages, allowances, and Eid bonuses to their workers. President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Mahmud Hasan Khan, announced this at a press briefing held at the BGMEA Complex in the capital today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the briefing, chaired by the BGMEA president, was attended by senior officials including Senior Vice-President Enamul Haq Khan, Vice-President (Finance) Mizanur Rahman, and several directors. Mahmud Hasan Khan emphasized that BGMEA member factories, driven by a strong sense of responsibility toward workers, made all-out efforts to clear wages, allowances, and festival bonuses despite the challenges at both domestic and global levels.
“As a result, workers have received their lawful dues, which has helped maintain peace and stability in the industrial belts,” he added. Khan expressed gratitude to the government for its timely and effective support, noting that special loan facilities on easy terms for the payment of February wages and the swift disbursement of Taka 2,500 crore in cash assistance played a crucial role in easing liquidity constraints and keeping the sector operational.
According to the briefing, 99.91 percent of BGMEA-listed factories have paid February wages, while 99.81 percent have disbursed Eid bonuses. The remaining few factories are currently in the process of settling dues, which are expected to be completed within the day. It was also noted that, although not legally required, around 64.03 percent of factories have provided partial March wages in advance on humanitarian grounds.
To facilitate smoother Eid travel and reduce congestion on highways, factories are granting holidays in phases based on location. As of March 17, around 50 percent of factories had already declared holidays, with the remainder expected to do so by today and tomorrow.