Most garment factories across Dhaka and Chattogram have completed wage and festival bonus payments ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, easing concerns over labour unrest during the holiday season.
According to the latest report of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), all 2,134 factories under observation paid March wages in full, while 2,123 factories — or 99.48 per cent — cleared April salaries as of 25 May.
Only a small number of factories still have pending payments, the report showed.
The report also showed that 2,059 factories, representing 96.49 percent of the monitored units, have already disbursed Eid festival bonuses to workers. In addition, 1,243 factories, or 58.25 percent, paid advances on May wages to help workers manage expenses before the holiday.
In the Dhaka zone, where the majority of export-oriented garment factories are located, payment compliance remained particularly strong. Of the 1,984 active factories, 1,976 factories, or 99.60 percent, cleared April wages, while 1,960 factories, or 98.79 percent, paid Eid bonuses. Around 61 percent of factories in the zone also paid May salary advances.
The Chattogram zone also reported high wage payment compliance, with 477 out of 480 factories clearing April wages. However, the pace of Eid bonus disbursement remained comparatively lower. Only 284 factories, or 59.17 percent, paid bonuses, while just 32 factories disbursed May salary advances.
Industry insiders said the lower rate of advance wage payments in Chattogram indicates that many smaller factories are taking a cautious approach to cash flow management before Eid.
The report further showed that around 25 factories across both zones have yet to pay festival bonuses, accounting for only 1.17 percent of the total monitored units.
Meanwhile, garment workers are expected to begin leaving Dhaka in phases ahead of the holiday.
According to the factory departure schedule, 106 factories released workers on 24 May, while 664 factories are scheduled to close on 25 May. The largest wave of departures is expected on 26 May, when 771 factories — around 36 percent of the total — are set to release workers before Eid.
Another 251 factories are expected to close on 27 May.
Industry insiders said the concentration of factory closures on May 26 could lead to heavy pressure on highways, rail stations and launch terminals as thousands of workers travel to their hometowns for the Eid holidays.
