The government will complete the payment of arrear wages and allowances to more than 27,000 laid-off workers of different industrial units of the Beximco Group this month.
Labour and employment adviser M Sakhawat Hossain revealed this in a press briefing after a meeting of the advisory council committee to review the labour and business situation of Beximco Industrial Park at the secretariat on Wednesday.
However, the payable amount has not been finalised yet, and they will disclose the amount to be paid to the workers at a meeting on February 18.
鈥楾he receiver who was initially appointed has been relieved of his duties and the new receiver took charge on the February 5. He needs some time to understand everything,鈥� he added.
In response to the question regarding the source of the money, he said that it would be given from the finance department or by selling shares of the Beximco. They will collect money from various sources.
Responding to a question whether the Beximco workers will become unemployed, he said that they are all skilled workers, so there is no possibility of becoming jobless.
鈥楾here is already a shortage of 5-6 per cent workers in the sector and I think the workers will surely find a solution in the EPZ or somewhere else. However, we are also working to address any situation,鈥� he added.
Responding to another question, M Shakhawat said that many MPs have businesses that are still running. Here, party identity is not an issue; basically, the big issue is the volume of loans.
鈥楤eximco withdrew loan of Tk聽50,000 crore, which may not be possible to repay even by selling all its assets, that is why no bank is willing to give them fresh loans and the current situation emerged,鈥� he added.
Regarding the non-inclusion of labour leaders and buyers in this committee, he said that it is a matter of the office, not of labour leaders or buyers, but if they have any reasonable suggestions, the government would welcome them.
On November 24, 2024, the government formed an advisory council committee to review the labour and business situation of Beximco Industrial Park.
The committee鈥簊 purpose is to evaluate Beximco鈥簊 current situation鈥簊 impact on surrounding industrial establishments and public life and recommend appropriate actions to address these issues. The committee has already conducted several meetings.
Among the 32 companies listed in Beximco Industrial Park in Gazipur, 16 are currently operational garment and textile factories, the rest of the 16 companies are not currently operational.
Since January 28, the government has shut down the 16 operational companies and decided to pay the legal dues to the affected workers.
Earlier on December 15, 2024, nearly 40,000 workers were laid off by Beximco Group in its 12 apparel units due to a shortage of work orders for its export-oriented garment and textile factories in Gazipur, on the outskirts of Dhaka.
A government committee has recommended selling of Beximco Group鈥檚 the 16 readymade garment companies, which the government shut down, to pay the workers鈥� dues.聽
