Noida workers’ protests prompt interim wage hike in Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday announced an interim hike in minimum wages across categories following protests by factory workers in Noida, The Hindu reported.

The revised interim wage rates, effective retrospectively from April 1, set the minimum monthly pay at Rs 13,690 for unskilled workers up from Rs 11,313, Rs 15,059 for semi-skilled workers and Rs 16,868 for skilled workers in Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad. In other municipal corporation areas, wages have been fixed at Rs 13,006, Rs 14,306 and Rs 16,025 respectively, while in the remaining districts they are Rs 12,356, Rs 13,591 and Rs 15,224.

The revision followed discussions between the state Labour Department, industry representatives and worker groups after protests over wages and working conditions escalated on Monday, The Indian Express reported.

The government also clarified that claims of a uniform Rs 20,000 minimum wage were incorrect.

However, PTI quoted workers as saying that the revised rates remained insufficient and demanded further hikes.

One worker, Awdhesh Mishra, said the protest would continue until their wage demands were met.

“We work 12 hours, but don’t get the salary accordingly,” he said. “What will we eat and save? We want salary between Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000.”

Another worker, Soni Singh, said that companies have stopped providing food, and noted that liquefied petroleum gas cylinders have become costlier, PTI reported....

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