Violent protests rocked Noida in Uttar Pradesh on Monday and continued into Tuesday as industrial workers took to the streets to demand a wage rise. Several vehicles, including police SUVs, were set on fire, public property was damaged, and incidents of stone-pelting were reported from different parts of the city.
It is worth noting that the motivation behind the protests is linked to the action taken in the neighboring state of Haryana, where an increase in workers’ wages was announced. However, while the workers were creating a storm in Noida, thousands of workers also held protests in Haryana’s Palwal and Faridabad on Monday following the state government’s decision to hike the minimum wages in all categories.
We explain why protests are being held in Haryana despite the wage hike announcement.
Noida protests
The protest began after the Haryana government on Thursday announced a 35 per cent increase in the minimum wages of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers, effective April 1, 2026.
Under the new structure:
- Increase the minimum wage for unskilled workers $11,274 to $15,220 per month
- Wages for semi-skilled workers rose from $12,430.18 to $16,780.74
- Skilled and highly skilled workers also received a 35% increase.
Many workers participating in the Noida protests said it was now difficult to explain the wage gap, especially since workers in the neighboring state of Haryana earned more. They also alleged that the employers are not adhering to the minimum wage rules set by the central government. NDTV I mentioned.
Why did workers in Haryana stage protests despite higher wages?
About 7,500 workers in Palwal and Faridabad staged protests in their areas on Monday. They claimed that the factory management did not issue any notification regarding the minimum wage increase announced by the Haryana government last week, as mentioned in an earlier HT report.
“The factory managements are not issuing any circulars or notices to the workers which is leading to mistrust,” said Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) (Haryana) general secretary Jay Bhagwan.
At the protest site, Chandra Bhan said he had been working for the past six years as an assistant in a Faridabad factory $9,400 per month. “The company management has pasted a minimum wage notice $“15,220 for unskilled workers on Monday only after we started the protest,” he said.
Officials said the protests occurred due to a lack of communication between workers and company management, along with rumours.
UP raises wages but protests continue in Noida
Protests by workers demanding wage hike continued in Noida on Tuesday despite the Uttar Pradesh government announcing a revised wage structure. Police lodged seven first information reports and arrested nearly 350 people in connection with the violence.
For Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad, wages of unskilled workers have been increased from $11,313 to $13,690 (temporary). Wages for semi-skilled workers rose from $12,445 to $15,059 (temporarily), while skilled workers will now receive $16.868 (temporary) up from $13,940.
