Many industrial units across Bangladesh, under the jurisdiction of the Industrial Police and excluding those within the Dhaka Metropolitan area, failed to pay workers’ May wages and festival allowances ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, according to data from the Industrial Police.

As of the evening of 4 June, just a day before the holidays began, 464 out of 2,457 textile and garment factories — nearly 16 per cent — had not disbursed festival allowances to their workers.

In total, 5,864 out of 9,683 industrial units — over 60 per cent — had not paid wages for the month of May.

These include 982 factories affiliated with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), 498 with the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and 287 with the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).

Additionally, 70 factories under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), 19 jute mills, and 4,008 non-RMG (ready-made garment) factories also remained behind on wage payments.

With regard to festival allowances, the Industrial Police reported that 1,874 units — spanning textile, garment, and non-RMG factories — had not fulfilled their obligations.

Among the BGMEA-registered factories, 263 out of 1,547 had not paid the allowance. In the BKMEA, 123 out of 580 units remained in default, while in the BTMA, 78 out of 330 factories had yet to pay.

Seven BEPZA factories were also listed among those that had failed to disburse the festival bonus.

The government had earlier set a deadline for festival allowance disbursement by May 31, and wages for the month of May by June 3, during a Tripartite Consultative Committee meeting held on 28 May.

BGMEA, which represents the largest segment of the sector, reported that 2,008 out of its 2,092 operational member factories had paid festival allowances as of 4:00pm on June 4, with payments pending in 84 units.

In terms of regular wage payments, 874 factories had not yet paid salaries for May.

BGMEA stated that 1,218 factories—or 58.22 per cent—had paid May wages as of June 4.

Furthermore, 12 BGMEA-listed factories had not paid wages for April, and the trade body flagged 11 factories as having potential risks of unrest over non-payment of wages and allowances.

Separately, the IP reported that 56 BGMEA factories, 11 BKMEA factories, 13 BTMA units and two BEPZA establishments had yet to pay monthly wages for April.