99.81% of garment factories have disbursed Eid bonuses, says BGMEA

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association on Wednesday said its member factories have fully cleared workers’ February salaries and Eid bonuses.

BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan stated that 99.91% of factories paid February wages, while 99.81% completed disbursement of festival bonuses.

He added that, although not mandatory, more than 64% of factories also provided partial advance salaries for March to support workers travelling home for the holidays. He made the remarks at a press briefing in the capital.

According to BGMEA data, export earnings declined by 3.73% in the first eight months of the current fiscal year. The sector is facing multiple challenges, including a global economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions—especially in the Middle East—and growing international competition.

The BGMEA chief noted that signs of strain include a 6.79% drop in the opening of back-to-back letters of credit for raw materials and a 1.76% fall in average garment unit prices.

Over the past five years, gas prices have increased by 286% and electricity costs by 33%, while ensuring a stable energy supply continues to remain a challenge, he added.