Noida : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday urged the protesting workers to stay calm and assured that the government stands with them.
While addressing a rally in Muzaffarnagar, CM Yogi appealed to the labourers that the double engine government is building a model of security and good governance and service for them. “Some conspiring to spread unrest and stop the state from moving towards peace and prosperity,” he said.
CM Yogi statement comes as protest in Noida intensified. A car showroom in Sector 63 was set on fire. The agitation, which turned violent in some areas, underscores growing frustration over pay disparities and unmet demands across the region industrial belt. The workers have demanded higher wages and better working conditions.
Workers Protest In Noida
At least 100 agitators have been arrested in connection with the worker protests over salary hike issues which led to widespread congestion, especially in Sector 62 and nearby areas on Monday.
Traffic movement was severely affected across Noida due to the protests. Entry into Noida from the Akshardham side was also blocked due to the agitation, further worsening the situation for those travelling from Delhi. Major routes connecting Sector 62 to Sector 16 and NH-9 were blocked by protesters, resulting in long traffic snarls and delays for commuters. Several cars were also torched by the protesting workers at the Hosiery Complex in Phase 2 of Noida further escalating the situation.
Protests were reported in multiple locations, including Sector 62, where large groups of workers gathered, climbed onto road dividers, and raised slogans, bringing traffic to a near standstill. Office-goers faced significant delays as movement across key arterial roads remained heavily restricted.
The situation escalated in Phase 2, where tensions ran high and incidents of stone pelting, vehicle arson, and vandalism were reported. A heavy police presence was deployed to manage the crowd and restore order.
Notably, the protests come a day after officials from the district administration, police, and the Noida Authority held a meeting with workers and assured them that their demands would be addressed. Despite the assurances, demonstrations continued, leading to major disruption in daily commuting across the city.
Why Workers Were Protesting?
Workers across industrial units in Noida had been staging protests primarily over low wages and disparity with neighbouring states.Haryana recently raised minimum wages to around Rs 19,000 per month. In comparison, wages in Uttar Pradesh remained significantly lower at around Rs 13,000. This gap triggered anger among workers in Noida’s industrial clusters, with protests intensifying in Phase 2, a hub for multiple manufacturing units.
Administration Promise To Workers
Following meetings with labour officials and industry stakeholders, authorities rolled out the following measures:
- A mandatory weekly off for all workers
- Double wages for overtime work
- Double wages for working on weekly holidaysAnnual bonus to be paid before November 30
- Salaries to be credited by the 10th of every month
- Provision of medical coverage for workers
- Enforcement of safe working conditions at workplaces
- Setting up a formal grievance redressal system
- Formation of a committee (headed by a woman) to handle harassment complaints
- Establishment of a control room with helpline numbers for worker supportDirection for regular inspections of industrial units
- Push for continuous dialogue between workers and management
