Staff Correspondent:

Around 200 factories, including textile and readymade garments, in different industrial zones are at risk of labour unrest as, according to law-enforcement agencies, these units are unlikely to be able to pay wages and festival allowances before the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

To avert any unwanted situation, the trade bodies claimed to have intensified their monitoring and keeping close contact with the management concerned.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) has clarified that the workers and employees of factories and other industrial establishments will enjoy Eid-ul-Azha holidays as per the labour law.

In a circular on Tuesday last, the MoLE issued the clarification in response to apparel sector trade bodies’ request for the same.

A confusion created among the workers over the holidays, following the government announcement of a 10-day Eid vacation for public employees.

A number of garment factories witnessed work abstention as their workers also demanded a 10-day vacation, sources said.

According to the MoLE notification, “… the factory authorities will take necessary measures in light of Section 118 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 and Rule 110 of the Labour Rules, 2015 regarding the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha holiday for the workers and employees of the concerned factories/industrial establishments.”

According to section 118 of the labour law, every worker is entitled to 11 days of paid festival holiday per calendar year and the employer determines the specific days and dates for these holidays as per rules.

The clarification came after the apparel trade bodies wrote to the ministry, following protests reported in some factories over Eid holidays.

The trade bodies are: The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).

When asked, BGMEA Administrator Anwar Hossain said that the confusion created over the Eid holidays though the factories usually prepare their