790 factories at labour unrest risk over dues

The industrial police have identified 790 industrial units, including 514 readymade garment and textile factories, across the country being at the risk of facing labour unrest over non-payment of wages and festival allowances to their workers before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

The government agency has recently prepared the list of the factories in six industrial zones under its jurisdiction and sent the list to the home ministry, officials concerned said.

According to the data, of the 790 industrial units, 514 are readymade garment and textile mills, 32 factories under the Bangladesh Export processing Zones Authority and 244 are non-RMG factories.  

Of the 514 factories, 382 are members of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, 92 members of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and 40 members of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, the IP statistics showed.

Data show that 57 factories in Ashulia Zone, including 32 RMG and textile units, 466 factories in Gazipur Zone, including 342 RMG and textile units, 100 units in Narayanganj Zone, including 58 RMG and textile factories, are facing the risk of having labour unrest in the current COVID-19 pandemic.

It also showed that, 133 factories in Chattogram Zone, including 68 RMG and textile factories, 20 factories in Mymensingh Zone, including 14 RMG and textile units, and 14 non-RMG factories in Khulna Zone are at the risk of facing unrest over payment of wages and festival allowances to their workers before the Eid.

BGMEA, however, said that there were some 177 member factories of the trade body, which might struggle with payments due to lack of work order and financing.

A BGMEA official said that they identified 177 factories being at the risk and were monitoring them so that no untoward situation took place.

The industrial police data also showed that there were a total of 7,602 industrial units under its jurisdiction across the country and workers’ wages for June remained unpaid in 3,362 factories as of July 15.

Of the 3,362 factories that could not pay wages for June, 1,647 are readymade garment and textile units, 45 factories under the Bangladesh Export processing Zone Authority and 1,670 are non-RMG units, according to the data.

Of the 1,647 RMG and textile units, 835 are BGMEA members, 649 units BKMEA members and 163 are BTMA members.

Although there were more than 4,000 factories listed as BGMEA members, the trade body has prepared the wage payment status of its member factories based on only 1,926 units who are engaged in direct export.

According to the BGMEA statistics, of the 1,926 factories, 1465 units paid the June wages to their workers as of July 15.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net