DHAKA: Workers of fifty percent garments factories did not get full bonus owing to the jugglery in law as there is no mentioning in the labor law about what percentage of salary will be given as bonus.

When demands were made from the workers for full bonus the owners use the intricacy of law rather a fixed amount was declared as bonus. The amount declared by the owners is some where one third of the basic salary, as informed by the labor organizations. Finding no other alternative the workers accepted it.

Bangladesh Textile Garments Workers Federation president Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Ismail told banglanews that in the labor law there is no direct provision about percentage still the owners so long used to pay equal amount of the basic pay as bonus. But the owners this year have broken that practice.

In a large number of factories including Future Knitwear, Regal Attires, NS New wear and Union New wear bonus was paid much less than basic salary.   

Advocate Zafrul Hassan Sharif told banglanews about the jugglery in law where there is mentioned about bonus but nothing mentioned about the percentage or what portion of basic salary. Taking this scope the owners have paid bonus as per their will.

Regarding the matter, BGMEA vice-president Md. Shahidullah Azim informed banglanews, this year all garments owners have paid salary and bonus to the workers. Even though the current month did not finish yet some owners have paid the salary of the incomplete month. 

But nothing is mentioned in the bonus law. Many factories have paid much more amount than the stipulated amount. Those who are not capable they are paying it through discussion with the workers. There is no complexity in it.

As there is no mentioning in the law so it is being disposed of through discussion is right. There is no scope to raise question about the matter, told the acting president of BKMEA Mohammad Hatem.

He informed Banglanews that as there is no mentioning in the law so there is no scope to create pressure on the owners by the BGMEA or BKMEA. The owners will pay according to their capabilities. 

BDST: 1530 HRS, JUL 26, 2014