Dhaka, March 27 -- The government has asked factory owners to pay the workers' wages and festival allowances before the beginning of Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Nazrul Islam Chowdhury gave the instruction at a press briefing after the 77th meeting with the representatives of the National Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) at the labour ministry on Wednesday.

The meeting, however, did not set any specific date for completing the wage and festival allowance payments to the workers.

"But, the payment must be done before the start of the government holidays on the occasion of the Eid ul Fitr," said the minister.

"The workers' Eid holidays will not be less than the government-declared holidays and the ...