DHAKA: Labor and Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain Sunday asked the factory owners to pay the salaries, overtime bills and bonus of the garment workers before Eid, as such arrears generate unrest in the industry.

“The garment owners are given directive to clear all payments of the workers before Eid as we want everybody be able to celebrate the Eid with festivity,” said the minister while talking to journalists at the secretariat.

Those who cannot comply with the order for paying off the back pays are advised to sit with BKMEA and BGMEA, he added.

“Stern action will be taken against those who will not pay the salary and allowances willfully,” Mosharraf warned.

He said: “A vested quarter is out to create instability in the garment sector. So, the government announced the minimum wage scale for the garment workers three months ahead of the scheduled time,” he said.

The minister also said that meeting would be held between the owners and the workers after Eid-ul-Fitr to stop the labour unrest over the pay-fixing issue.

Workers in different belts of the export industry still agitate for raising the minimum wage to Tk 5,000, although the government announced Tk 3,000 as the lowest slab.      

BDST 1531 HRS, AUGUST 29, 2010