Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has decided to pay partial wages for the month of July and festival bonus to the garment workers before the Eid-ul-Fitr.
The decision was taken at an internal meeting of the apex body of apparel sector in the city on Friday, sources said.
“BGMEA has already asked its members to make payments as per the decision,” said Shahidullah Azim, Vice-President of the BGMEA,
Meanwhile, workers of different garment factories have already started demonstrations in the industrial belts demanding wages for the month of July and festival bonus on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Leaders of workers’ associations have also demanded payment of wages and bonus before the Eid.
Sirajul Islam Rony, President of Bangladesh Jatiya Garments Sramik Karmachari League told this correspondent that they are demanding wages of at least 20 days of the current month and festival bonus ahead of the Eid.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at a meeting with the BGMEA leaders and workers’ leaders recently asked the garment owners to pay wages and bonus of the workers before the Eid.
Stakeholders of the sector also said that as per the directives of the BGMEA they will pay wages and bonus to the workers before the Eid.
However, they informed that they usually receive bills from the buyers during the first week of each month. They will receive the bill of the month of July in the first week of August.
For this, it may not be possible to pay the full month’s wages for July, but the owners will pay the partial wages for the current as well as the Eid bonus, said the BGMEA vice president.
