Protests by factory workers demanding wage hikes in Noida on Monday spread to adjoining regions and turned violent, with incidents of vandalism, stone-pelting, and arson reported.
According to officials, workers from multiple industrial units had gathered to press for higher wages and improved working conditions. However, the demonstration escalated into violence as tensions intensified.
A worker, Akshay, claimed that companies in Gurugram are paying around ₹20,000 per month, while workers in Noida receive nearly ₹10,000, with occasional deductions. “We are getting ₹10,000 and sometimes ₹1,000 gets deducted,” he said.
Protests were reported from Phase-2 and Sector 60 in Noida, as well as Sector 38 in Faridabad, leading to road blockades and severe traffic congestion. Major routes, including the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, witnessed long traffic jams.
Demonstrators created significant unrest at Vipul Motors, an authorised Maruti Suzuki service centre in Sector 63, Noida. Similar protests were reported in Sectors 62 and 84, including at a unit of Motherson Group. Protesters also blocked National Highway 9 near the Ghaziabad border, a key route connecting Delhi with western Uttar Pradesh.
The violence disrupted traffic across the region, leaving thousands of commuters stranded during peak morning hours. Long queues of vehicles stretching several kilometres were reported at the Delhi-Noida border.
In response, the Uttar Pradesh Labour Department has constituted a committee to address the industrial unrest. The panel will include five representatives from labour unions and three from industry bodies. The Industrial Development Commissioner will chair the committee, while the Additional Chief Secretary (MSME) and the Principal Secretary (Labour and Employment) will serve as members.
Addressing a gathering in Muzaffarnagar, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the unrest a “conspiracy” aimed at disrupting the state’s growth. While expressing support for workers, he urged them to remain cautious of elements attempting to incite violence.
Rajeev Krishna, Director General of Police, said authorities are identifying individuals who allegedly instigated the violence and warned that strict action would follow. He noted that both “provocative” and “external elements” are under investigation.
Meanwhile, Noida Police has registered an FIR against Congress social media coordinators Mir Ilyas and Anushi Tiwari for allegedly spreading misinformation on social media platform X, claiming casualties during the protests.
Senior officials, including Additional Director General (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash, are closely monitoring the situation from the police headquarters control room.
The unrest comes a day after the Uttar Pradesh government announced several labour welfare measures for Gautam Buddha Nagar, including mandatory double overtime pay, timely wage disbursal, and weekly offs.
District Magistrate Medha Roopam had earlier held meetings with industrial representatives and issued directives to safeguard workers’ rights. She instructed that workers willing to continue employment should not face any inconvenience and emphasised the need for continuous dialogue between management and employees.
The administration has also directed industrial units to ensure functional CCTV cameras at factory gates and has set up a control room to address grievances and maintain law and order.
