Ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, nearly 50 factories in Chattogram’s industrial areas may face difficulties in paying workers’ salaries and bonuses. 48 factories are facing uncertainty over payment dues to around 24,000 workers and staff members due to various crises, according to the Industrial Police’s latest report. Most of the factories identified during the last Eid-ul-Fitr have again appeared on the same list this time.
Consequently, there are concerns of labour unrest, protests, and instability at the factories ahead of Eid. However, Industrial Police said they are maintaining regular communication with factory owners and trying to resolve the situation.
In total, 48 factories across 10 zones in Chattogram may fail to pay Eid-ul-Adha wages and allowances, according to Chattogram Industrial Police data. These factories employ around 21,481 workers and 2,021 other staff members.
Four factories in the Patenga zone under Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone employ 3,943 workers and 431 staff members, the report stated. In the port zone under Chattogram Export Processing Zone, eight factories employing 4,094 workers and 307 staff members are at risk regarding salary payments.
In the Double Mooring zone, a single factory employs a total of 376 workers and staff members.
Four factories in the Pahartali zone employ 289 workers and 32 staff members. In the Sitakunda zone, 860 workers and staff members of yarn manufacturer Mars Textile Limited are facing uncertainty over wages and allowances, although the factory has already declared a layoff.
The Chandgaon zone has the highest number of risky factories, with 14 factories employing 7,081 workers and 485 office staff members. In the Panchlaish zone, three factories employ 1,840 workers and 135 staff members. Two factories in the Kotwali zone employ a total of 293 workers.
In addition, workers and staff members of seven factories in the Karnaphuli zone, involving 2,284 workers and 292 staff members, are also uncertain about receiving their wages and allowances before Eid.
Industrial Police Chattogram Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al-Mahmud told Bonik Barta, “Based on preliminary information, around 48 factories may face problems regarding Eid wages and allowances. We’ve spoken with both factory owners and workers. It will take some time to finalise our lists, categorising factories as highly risky, risky, and less risky. Besides the existing data, there’s also a possibility of unrest in several more factories.”
“Just two or three days ago, workers at two factories staged demonstrations demanding an additional two days of Eid leave, even though there had been no concerns regarding wage or allowance payments there. In many cases, when the list is prepared, factories initially show no wage-related problems. But later, some form of complication emerges. But, we’re maintaining communication with the owners of the risky factories to ensure that no crisis arises over wages and allowances before Eid,” he added.
Among the 1,676 factories in Chattogram’s industrial zones, efforts are underway to coordinate with owners so that workers receive April salaries, at least 20 days’ wages for May, and Eid bonuses before the upcoming Eid, Industrial Police officials said.
Some factories have already paid April salaries. However, 48 factories are facing difficulties regarding overdue salaries, current month wages, or Eid bonuses. Officials noted that there is still some time remaining before Eid-ul-Adha, and police are working with factory owners to resolve the issues.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official of one factory told Bonik Barta, “Our institution used to be worker-friendly. We never faced problems regarding wages and allowances. Apart from this, there had never been labour unrest here before. But, since the Covid period, we’ve failed to maintain a balance between income and expenditure.”
He added, “As work orders declined, we had to reduce operational activities to keep the factory running. Workers were laid off after clearing their dues. Even after reducing manpower to nearly half of what it previously was, the owner is still struggling to operate the factory. April salaries have almost been paid. It may not be possible to pay May salaries before Eid, but workers eligible for bonuses won’t be deprived.”
Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone Executive Director Mahbub Ahmed told Bonik Barta that among the four factories listed by Industrial Police as potentially failing to pay wages and bonuses before Eid, three have already cleared April salaries and allowances.
“They will also pay bonuses,” he said. “But the owners of the shoe factory Strong Footwear are facing uncertainty over salary and allowance payments because the factory has shut down.”
Discussions are ongoing regarding whether the factories will be able to pay full May salaries before Eid, according to their policies or at least provide half-month salaries.