Noida unrest: Uttar Pradesh govt panel holds late-night talks as workers push for Rs 20,000 minimum wage

Amid simmering industrial unrest in Gautam Buddh Nagar, workers are making their demands heard loud and clear: better pay, guaranteed weekly offs, and more humane working conditions. These issues took centre stage during a late-night meeting between labour representatives and a high-level committee set up by the Uttar Pradesh government.

The panel, formed on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, met workers and industry stakeholders in Greater Noida as part of an ongoing effort to defuse tensions following recent protests that turned violent in Noida’s Phase 2 industrial area.

‘We just want fair wages’

At the heart of the unrest is a demand for higher wages. Many workers say they currently earn between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 a month, which they argue is no longer enough to keep up with rising living costs. Their demand: a revision to Rs 18,000–Rs 20,000, in line with pay scales in neighbouring states like Haryana.

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“We’ve been working for years without any meaningful increase. We just want a fair salary that reflects today’s costs,” said Suraj, a factory worker, quoted by the Hindustan Times.

But the concerns go beyond pay. Workers are also pushing for a guaranteed weekly day off, proper overtime compensation, particularly double pay for extra hours, and better treatment at the workplace.

A broader set of concerns

Officials say the discussions are part of a multi-phase consultation process, with inputs being gathered from workers across multiple industrial units. So far, no single union has emerged as the face of the negotiations.

Beyond wages, workers have flagged deeper structural issues including job security, stricter enforcement of labour laws, and the need for safer, more respectful workplaces.

District Magistrate Medha Roopam stressed that the administration is prioritising dialogue. The committee, she said, will submit recommendations soon, aiming to balance workers’ rights with industrial stability.

What happens next

More rounds of talks are expected in the coming days, with key decisions, especially on wage revisions, likely to be taken at the government level.

For now, authorities are urging workers to remain calm, return to work, and avoid rumours, as efforts continue to find a resolution that restores both trust and order in one of Uttar Pradesh’s busiest industrial hubs.