UP govt approves wage hikes of up to Rs 3,000 for workers day after Noida violence
UP govt approves wage hikes of up to Rs 3,000 for workers day after Noida violence
M.U.H
14/04/202623
A day after workers’ protests in Noida turned violent and brought parts of the NCR to a standstill, the Uttar Pradesh government has increased minimum wages across worker categories by up to Rs 3,000.
Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam on Tuesday said the revision was approved by a high-powered committee and has been made effective retrospectively from April 1.
"The wage increase has been done by the high-powered committee. The decision was approved by CM UP late last night," Roopam told reporters.
This is an interim decision and a broader review will be carried out later, after which a process for a permanent solution will be initiated through a wage board.
Under the revised structure in Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, unskilled workers will now earn Rs 13,690 per month, up from Rs 11,313. Semi-skilled workers will receive Rs 15,059, while skilled workers will get Rs 16,868, according to an official statement.
In other municipal corporation areas, monthly wages have been fixed at Rs 13,006 for unskilled workers, Rs 14,306 for semi-skilled workers and Rs 16,025 for skilled workers.
For the remaining districts, unskilled workers will earn Rs 12,356 per month, semi-skilled workers Rs 13,591 and skilled workers Rs 15,224.
Officials said the decision was taken after consultations with employers’ associations and labour organisations, with suggestions and objections reviewed to ensure a “balanced and practical” outcome.
The development comes after large-scale protests by factory workers in Noida on Monday, during which thousands demanded higher wages and improved working conditions.
The protest escalated into widespread violence across multiple industrial sectors in Noida, including arson, vandalism and stone-pelting, severely disrupting traffic and damaging property.
Police have arrested around 350 people and detained over 100 others, while also examining CCTV footage to identify more suspects. Seven FIRs have been registered, and the situation is now under control with efforts ongoing to restore normalcy.
The unrest prompted the government to set up a committee to engage with both workers and employers and address the situation. The government has urged workers to remain calm and assured dialogue to resolve grievances.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar on Monday night termed the violence during workers’ protests in Noida as a “well-planned conspiracy,” while also hinting at a possible Pakistan link being probed in light of recent terror-related arrests in the region.
The minister said preliminary findings suggest an attempt to destabilise law and order, citing the arrest of four suspected terrorists from Noida and Meerut with alleged links to handlers in Pakistan.
Authorities deployed heavy police and paramilitary forces, using tear gas to control crowds and restore order. Officials said the violence may also have aimed to disrupt a scheduled visit by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
