The government will impose a travel ban on factory owners who fail to pay workers’ wages and festival allowances by 27 March, warned Labour and Employment Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain.

Speaking at a press conference at the secretariat on Tuesday, he said that manufacturers would not be allowed to travel abroad without settling payments, and legal action would be taken against defaulters.

He also noted that, in coordination with the home ministry, steps had already been taken against 12 factories deemed unable to meet the deadline, emphasising that owners must pay workers even if it requires selling their assets.

Sakhawat also said that some factory owners led lavish lives and went abroad to celebrate Eid but could not pay their workers.

‘I urge the workers to speak up if they have logical demand. However, if anyone raises unreasonable demands, then we will take action against them too,’ he added.

He also urged the workers to demonstrate in front of manufacturers’ houses or banks, liable to release the incentive money.

‘There is no result by blocking the ministry as we don’t owe the money to you,’ he added.

He also said that the government provided Tk 2,250 crore to the factories as export incentives, and the owners are bound to pay the workers now.

‘If anyone go abroad without paying, they should inform that they cannot run their factories. We will manage the money by selling them,’ he added.

The authorities identified some factories which do not pay workers properly. The factories show lame excuse that they have no money to pay the workers before Eid. He added that the government would take action against them.

Responding to a question about factories in risk of payment failure, he said that there were 12 risky factories so far and among them, 5 were highly risky.

‘However, these factories have been struggling for the past 2-3 years. They are now trying to pressure the government to take advantage. Why should we pay for them?’ He added that many of these factories were shut 3-4 years ago.

Responding to a question, labour secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman said that they screened 250 risky factories and connected them with the central bank.

‘We provide the highest amount of incentive this year for all the factories. However, there are 5-6 factories who had been suffering from various problems for at least 5 years. On the other hand, some workers of several factories took to the street demanding Eid bonuses but they were recruited 2-3 months ago, which is against the Labour Act,’ he added.

Regarding Beximco’s latest update, the Labour Adviser said that, as per the decision of the 8th meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on March 24, the management cleared wages worth Tk 295 crore to workers and Tk 162 crore to employees.

Only 214 workers and 207 employees have yet to receive their wages, which are worth Tk 60.82 crore. He added that more than Tk 5 crore is expected to be surplus among the Tk 525.46 crore disbursed.

He also said that about 99.99 per cent of RMG factories under the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association have cleared the wages for February.

He added that all the RMG factories must pay the full or half wages for March before starting the Eid holidays.

According to the BGMEA, about 90.18 per cent of RMG factories cleared payment of festival allowances ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Of them, 1,618 factories are in the Dhaka zone and 282 in the Chattogram zone, totaling 1900.

Moreover, 2,083 factories, or 98.86 per cent of the total operational RMG factories under the BGMEA, cleared the February wage.

So far, 199 factories have cleared the full or half wages of March. The Eid holidays in the RMG sector will start on March 26, said the BGMEA.

Under BKMEA, 99.08 per cent of factories cleared February wages, 53.19 per cent March wages, and 75.87 percent cleared festival allowances, said the BKMEA sources.