STAFF REPORTER
Despite having no provision in law—the owners of readymade garment (RMG) factories agreed to pay worker’s bonus on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha by September 20.
“The RMG owners also agreed to pay the monthly salary of the current month (September) for 15 days during announcement of Eid holidays,” state minister for labour and employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu told reporters after a ‘crisis management’ meeting held at the secretariat yesterday.
Among others, labour and employment secretary Mikail Shipar, leaders of BGMEA, BKMEA, RMG owners and representatives of workers organisations attended the meeting.
“There is no provision in law to pay bonus on Eid. But how the workers will return home in hands? So, whatever the provision in law, we have requested the RMG owners to pay bonus and they agreed. The workers will get bonus by September 20,” Mujibul Haque Chunnu said.
He further said, even there is no provision to pay the salary before the Eid for the month of September, though the RMG owners have agreed after discussion to pay salary for 15 days of the current month.
“Those factories who are suffering fund crisis or have no enough work order will have to pay 10 per cent salary through understanding with the workers,” the state minister added.
The meeting also decided to announce Eid holidays for the workers in phases after September 20 to avoid pressure on buses, trains and launches, he added.
“The decision is taken so that our workers could celebrate Eid with their family members and relatives after smooth journey in a good atmosphere,” Chunnu said.
The government has formed the crisis management committee headed by state minister for labour and employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu to monitor workers’ problem usually faces on different occasions like Eid.
Normally workers staged demonstrations blocking roads and streets demanding to pay their salaries and bonus against factories who denied to pay before Eid holidays.
