The government has imposed a travel ban on 12 factory owners for failing to pay workers’ wages and bonuses within the deadline.

Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, Adviser for Shipping and Labour and Employment said this at a press conference at the Ministry of Shipping on Tuesday (March 25).

He said that the Home Ministry has already notified immigration authorities, and the ban is effective from today.

Sakhawat Hossain said that the owners will not be allowed to leave the country until they clear all due payments.

According to Sakhawat Hossain, all garment factories were required to pay workers by March 27. However, 12 factories have failed to comply, and five of them are already facing worker unrest.

He warned that strict legal action would be taken against those failing to meet the deadline. 

When asked to disclose the names of the factories, he declined to do so.

Regarding other factories that may fail to pay workers on time, the adviser said the government will review the situation after March 27. If additional factories default on payments, similar legal measures will be taken against them.

BDST: 1800 HRS, March 25, 2025
MSK