Due to inadequate bonuses for employees and delayed wage payments, the RMG industry in Bangladesh is experiencing severe dissatisfaction as Eid-ul-Fitr draws near. According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), out of 2,107 active RMG factories, 1,763 (approximately 83.87 per cent) have paid Eid bonuses, with Dhaka region factories reporting a higher payment rate of 87 per cent compared to 65 per cent in Chittagong. However, only 4 per cent of factories have disbursed salaries for March, with 41 in Dhaka and 43 in Chittagong having paid their workers. Additionally, 31 factories have not yet settled salaries for February.
The situation is further complicated as the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) reported that while 50 per cent of its approximately 750 member factories have paid bonuses, financial difficulties are impacting around 500 factories in total. BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem assured that all salaries and allowances would be settled before the holidays, despite some workers demanding unrealistic bonuses and extended leave.
Protests have erupted across various regions, including Savar, Ashulia, and Gazipur, with workers expressing frustration over unpaid salaries, bonuses, and demands for additional leave for Eid. Notable incidents include the workers of Roar Fashion in Bhaluka protesting at the BGMEA building, Chantik Garments employees halting work for extra leave, and TNZ Group workers blocking a road over five months of unpaid salaries.
The BGMEA has identified 11 affiliated factories at risk of unrest due to non-payment of wages and bonuses, while 29 factories have not paid February salaries, violating labor laws. Additionally, 207 factories have not disbursed Eid bonuses, and only 161 factories will begin their Eid vacations on 26th March.
In Savar, workers at Jeans Manufacturing Company Ltd blocked the Hemayetpur-Singair regional road after learning of an indefinite factory closure due to unrest. In Gazipur, workers of Hagh Knitwears Ltd protested for three months of unpaid wages and Eid bonuses, leading to significant traffic disruptions.
With the official Eid vacation starting on 26th March, the pressure mounts on factory owners to ensure timely payments and avoid further unrest among workers, who are eager to celebrate the holiday with financial security.
