Hundreds of industrial workers in Noida (New Okhla Industrial Development Authority) in Uttar Pradesh, India took to the streets on Monday, April 13 demanding higher wages and better working conditions, as protests escalated into clashes with police in the city’s industrial zones.
“We are not able to make ends meet,” said Rajesh, one of the workers protesting the low wages at the industrial center. “How do we raise our children like this?”
The demonstrations, centered in Phase 2 of Noida, home to numerous factories, saw workers block roads and confront security forces. While some incidents turned violent, with vehicles damaged and stones thrown, the core of the protest focused on long-standing grievances over low pay and excessive working hours.
Workers said many earn less than ₹15,000 per month despite working up to 12 hours a day. Protesters are demanding an 8-hour workday, overtime pay, and a minimum monthly wage of ₹20,000.
“We are just asking for two things—overtime pay and ₹20,000 a month,” said Lakshmi, one of the protesters. “We are being exploited. There is no proper food break, and no safety for women.”
Others pointed to the widening gap between wages and the rising cost of living. “Everything is getting more expensive—rent, cooking gas, school fees,” said one worker. “But our salaries are not increasing. What can we manage with ₹13,000 a month?”
Many workers said they currently earn between ₹300 and ₹400 per day, far below what they consider a living wage. Some called for daily earnings of at least ₹800 to cope with basic expenses.
The protests have been intensified by recent developments in the neighboring state of Haryana, where the government raised minimum wages by around 35 percent. Workers in Noida say they are now being paid less than their counterparts across the border for similar work.
In Haryana, minimum wages for unskilled workers have been raised to over ₹15,000 per month, with higher rates for semi-skilled and skilled labor. Protesters in Noida argue that companies should match these increases and comply with national labor standards.
Authorities responded by deploying police in riot-control gear, urging workers to remain peaceful while monitoring the situation. Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, said workers should receive fair wages and safe working conditions, while also warning against unrest.
The state labor department has been directed to initiate talks with factory owners and local officials to address the demands.
