Garment factory owners must clear all outstanding worker wages by May 28 or face immediate arrest, Labour Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain declared Wednesday during a press briefing at the Secretariat.
According to UNB, the stern warning came amid concerns over recent workers’ protests amid the Eid-ul-Adha preparations.
“Owners were given an ultimatum — pay the dues even if it requires selling their homes,” said Hossain, revealing that arrest warrants for five non-compliant owners have already been prepared, with red alerts possible for those who flee abroad.
“Anyone incapable of paying workers for months doesn’t belong in this industry,” he asserted. “There were plans for workers to besiege the Labour Ministry and State Guest House Jamuna. The factories are under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Industries and Ministry of Commerce, but somehow, the responsibility has fallen on me.”
“I urge the factory owners to pay their workers or be prepared to go to jail. Arrest warrants are in place, but we haven’t activated them yet.”
The adviser disclosed that Tuesday’s meeting with factory owners yielded the May 28 deadline.