Labour Minister Calls for Timely Payment of Workers’ Salaries and Bonuses

Minister for Labour and Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury has urged factory owners to ensure the timely disbursement of workers’ salaries and bonuses within the stipulated timeframe. He made the call on Wednesday at a meeting held in the conference room of the Gazipur Deputy Commissioner ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, focusing on maintaining overall stability in the industrial zones and ensuring smooth payment of wages and bonuses.

The minister warned that no vested or criminal groups should be allowed to create unrest in the industrial areas during the Eid period. He directed intelligence agencies and local administration to remain on high alert and instructed law enforcement agencies to prepare lists of floating and identified criminals and bring them swiftly under legal action.

He also stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among local Members of Parliament, district administration, police, industrial police, and intelligence agencies to maintain a stable and productive industrial environment in Gazipur.

Discussions at the meeting covered the overall law and order situation in the industrial belt. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan (Babu) requested government assistance in ensuring adequate diesel supply for factory generators to maintain uninterrupted production.

In response, the Labour Minister instructed authorities to ensure transparency by displaying notices at fuel stations indicating factory names and allocated diesel quantities for generators. He also assured that discussions would be held with relevant authorities to keep load shedding at a tolerable level in industrial areas.

The meeting was chaired by Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Md. Nurul Karim Bhuiyan and attended by Members of Parliament from Gazipur-1, 3, and 5 constituencies, along with the administrator of the district council.