Pay bonus by July 27

The government yesterday asked employers of 42 different industrial, production, manufacturing, trade and services sectors to complete paying festival bonuses for upcoming Eid-ul-Azha by July 27 and half of July's salary by July 30.

Begum Monnujan Sufian, state minister for labour and employment, instructed employers, including those of the garment sector which accounts for most of the employment, to complete the payments within the time stipulated.

Eid-ul-Azha is scheduled to be celebrated either on July 31 or August 1.

Sufian's directive came after a meeting with leaders of trade unions of different sectors across the country at Shrama Bhaban in Dhaka.

She also suggested workers stay back and refrain from visiting their ancestral homes as the government has approved just three days as a public holiday for the Eid.

The state minister has been holding meetings and giving out her suggestions as many factory owners do not want to pay the salary and bonus on time.

Sufian and the union leaders also asked factory owners not to sack workers and instead complete paying their arrears.

Currently, the country's workforce is employed under 42 different sectors for which the government appoints a minimum wage board that fixes wages and allowances after a legal periodical review.