Labour ministry has instructed factory authorities to settle all outstanding wages, festival allowances and dues to workers by the 20th of Ramadan.

In addition, the ministry urged entrepreneurs to pay at least 15 days’ wages for March, depending on their financial capacity.

These directives were finalised during a Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) meeting held on Wednesday night at the Srama Bhaban in the capital.

The ministry also stressed that factory management and worker representatives should jointly decide on the start date of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in accordance with labour laws, ensuring alignment with neighbouring factories.

Labour ministry also asked factory owned not to terminate or lay off workers before Eid-ul-Fitr.

Law enforcement agencies will actively monitor the overall labour situation, particularly issues related to wage payments and holiday schedules.

The meeting also decided that to facilitate transactions, commercial banks in key industrial zones will remain open from March 28 to March 29, 2025.

They will also urge the finance division and central bank regarding the potential cash incentives of the BGMEA and BKMEA members.

The ministry also decided to establish a central monitoring cell under the leadership of the additional secretary (labour) along with representatives from workers’ unions, factory owners, and relevant ministries and agencies.

Labour secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman chaired the meeting with the presence of TCC members, including representatives from workers’ unions, factory owners’ associations, law enforcement agencies, the Bangladesh Army, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, and the Labour Department.

The discussions also covered a review of the pre-Eid labour situation, including plans for the distribution of TCB goods in industrial zones by the commerce ministry.