Noida Protest: Noida salary hike protest turns violent: Vehicles torched, properties vandalised, stones pelted | Noida News – The Times of India
NOIDA: A protest by workers over wage demands turned violent in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida on Monday, with vehicles vandalised, stones hurled and at least one car set on fire in the Hosiery Complex area of Phase 2. A large number of employees had gathered at the site demanding a salary hike when the situation escalated during an altercation, prompting chaos and damage to public and private property. Police said heavy force was deployed to bring the situation under control. Authorities added that the protestors allegedly resorted to stone pelting during the clash, leading to further tension in the industrial area.Also read: Workers’ protest paralyses Noida traffic: All you need to knowThe unrest comes amid ongoing discussions between labour officials and the state administration over worker welfare measures, including overtime pay, bonuses, weekly offs and workplace safety. On Sunday, Noida district magistrate Medha Roopam held a meeting with the state’s Principal Secretary (Labour) and Labour commissioner, where issues related to workers’ rights and industrial peace were discussed.An official statement posted by the DM on X said the meeting focused on “protection of workers’ interests, double payment for overtime, bonus, weekly holidays, and workplace safety.” The DM had also appealed to workers to maintain calm and not fall for rumours. She urged employees to cooperate in maintaining law and order and shared control room numbers for assistance.
Traffic hit in Noida
Protests by industrial workers demanding a wage hike intensified on Monday, leading to major traffic disruptions across several parts of the city. The situation was particularly severe at Chilla border and Sector 62, where workers blocked roads during morning peak hours, causing long traffic snarls on the first working day of the week. According to officials, the protest initially began in Sector 62 but quickly spread to multiple industrial and high-traffic zones, significantly affecting vehicular movement. Key locations impacted by the demonstrations included the Hosiery Complex and areas around the Motherson factory in Phase-2, near Sector 60 Metro Station, Sector 62 Gol Chakkar, factories in Sector 63, Sector 15, and the Phase 1 area.
What we know so far
The unrest came after two days of protests by factory workers over low minimum wages in the industrial belt. The Noida administration on Sunday announced a series of measures aimed at addressing worker grievances.Also read: Noida acts after workers’ protests: All you need to know“It announced a compulsory weekly off for all workers, double pay for overtime and work on weekly holidays, annual bonus before Nov 30, salary disbursal by the 10th of every month, medical cover, workplace safety measures and a formal complaints system to address harassment.” The decisions were taken at a joint meeting at the Noida Authority office in Sector 6, attended by district magistrate Medha Rupam, Authority CEO Krishna Karunesh, police commissioner Laxmi Singh and other officials.Senior labour department officials, including principal secretary MKS Sundaram and labour commissioner Markandey Shahi, joined virtually. District magistrate Rupam said the administration had been holding talks with industrial units over the past few days. She said factories had been asked to ensure a weekly off for every worker and pay double if anyone is made to work on that day. Overtime, too, must be paid at double the rate. The administration also said workers would be paid their annual bonus before November 30. A committee headed by a woman will be set up to address complaints of harassment. Officials said factories must ensure workers are treated with dignity and provided medical cover and safe working conditions. The protests had intensified in Phase 2 after Haryana raised monthly minimum wages from Rs 14,000 to Rs 19,000, a jump of about 35%. In Uttar Pradesh, however, the minimum wage remains around Rs 13,000, a gap that has fuelled resentment among workers in Noida’s factories.