Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has announced the completion of wage and allowance payments, despite some gaps, for workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

BGMEA Administrator Mohammad Anwar Hossain expressed his gratitude to the garment sector’s entrepreneurs for their dedicated efforts to ensure the timely payment of wages and bonuses, despite facing challenges, according to a press release on Thursday.

With their collective cooperation from all, garment workers will be able to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families in a festive atmosphere, he said.

Notably, following BGMEA's request, the government took advance measures, instructing banks to release incentive funds. This move enabled entrepreneurs to make payments for February wages, partial/full March wages, and festival bonuses without obstacles. The release of funds, particularly for small and medium factories first, and then larger ones, ensured that no significant disruptions occurred in the garment sector regarding wage and allowance payments this year, said the release.

To ensure that no factory faced any issues ahead of the Eid celebrations, BGMEA closely monitored 445 factories where wage-related problems were anticipated. As a result of BGMEA's direct intervention, wages and allowances were secured for workers in nearly 100 factories facing difficulties.

As of March 27, the wage and allowance payment status in the garment sector is as follows:

Total operational factories in the garment sector: 2,107 (1,769 in the Dhaka region and 338 in the Chattogram region).

99.53% of factories have paid February wages.

83.20% of factories have paid partial/full March wages.

94.78% of factories have paid the Eid bonus.

0.47% of factories are still processing February wage payments.

Although some factories were busy with urgent shipments, payment completion is expected by March 29, with nearly all factories finishing payments by then.

In a bid to reduce traffic congestion on highways during the Eid holidays, BGMEA has instructed factories to grant holidays to workers in phases, a process that began on March 26. It is expected that all workers will leave for their Eid holidays by March 29, added the release.