Govt asks factory owners to clear arrears in a week

The government has directed factory owners to clear all outstanding wages within seven working days to ensure industrial stability ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The instruction came from the 94th meeting of the Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) and the 23rd meeting of the RMG-focused TCC, held at the CIRDAP International Conference Centre in the capital yesterday.

Labour and Employment, and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, who chaired the meeting, said no worker should remain unpaid ahead of the festival. He also set March 12 as the deadline for payment of Eid bonuses.

The minister stressed that both employers and workers must work in coordination to prevent unrest and public suffering. He warned that no worker should be laid off or terminated without valid reasons.

The directive comes amid concerns over potential labour dissatisfaction in the readymade garment sector before Eid.

In line with the government’s general holiday notification and the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, Eid holidays should be fixed through mutual discussion between employers and workers, the minister said.

Worker representatives at the meeting called for immediate clearance of dues before Eid and urged the government to extend maternity leave for female workers to six months.