More than one in five industrial units in Bangladesh have yet to pay Eid bonuses, raising concerns over worker welfare ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr despite government directives and financial support measures.
Data from the Industrial Police showed that 2,033 out of 10,100 factories — or 20.13 per cent — had not paid bonuses as of Wednesday morning. In contrast, 8,067 units have already disbursed festival bonuses.
Wage payments also lag behind. Around 1,008 factories, nearly 10 per cent of the total, have yet to pay February salaries, while 9,092 units have cleared wages. Many factories are scheduled to close on Thursday for the Eid holidays.
Advance payments for March remain limited. Only 322 factories, or 3.19 per cent, have so far paid advance wages, indicating slower compliance in the run-up to the festival.
Earlier this month, a tripartite meeting involving factory owners, workers and the government set deadlines for payments. Labour and Employment Ministry Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury directed factories to clear February wages by March 9 and Eid bonuses by March 12.
To ease pressure on businesses, the government arranged soft loans equivalent to one month’s wages for export-oriented industries. It also released Tk2,500 crore in pending cash incentives for the sector.
Despite these measures, payment delays have persisted. The deterioration in compliance within a short period has heightened anxiety among workers, many of whom rely on timely wages and bonuses ahead of the festival.
Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation General Secretary Babul Akter urged factory owners to expedite payments. He warned that continued delays could disrupt industrial stability.
