Noida erupts in fresh labour protests; Workers clash with police, resort to stone pelting over wage demands

Police later dispersed the crowd and cleared the area.

The unrest comes amid a broader labour agitation in the region, with violence reported in Noida’s Phase 2 industrial area on Monday (April 13, 2026), where protests over wage demands escalated into vandalism, prompting heavy police deployment and the use of tear gas.

Authorities said more than 300 people were arrested under preventive provisions, while over 100 were detained for questioning.

Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam told reporters that the revision was approved by a high-powered committee.

The new wages have been made effective retrospectively from April 1.   

"The wage increase has been done by the high-powered committee. The decision was approved by CM UP late last night," Roopam was quoted as saying by India Today.

For Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, wages for unskilled workers have been raised from Rs 11,313 to Rs 13,690 (interim), for semi-skilled workers from Rs 12,445 to Rs 15,059 (interim), and for skilled workers from Rs 13,940 to Rs 16,868 (interim), news agency UNI reported.

In other districts with municipal corporations, wages for unskilled workers have increased from Rs 11,313 to Rs 13,006 (interim), for semi-skilled workers from Rs 12,445 to Rs 14,306, and for skilled workers from Rs 13,940 to Rs 16,025, the news agency reported.

The government said that social media claims that the minimum wage has been fixed at Rs 20,000 per month were misleading and baseless. Noida Protest Tension flared in Noida’s Phase 2 area on Monday after a workers’ protest demanding a wage hike turned violent, media reports said.

The agitation was launched by workers from the Hosiery Complex in the industrial hub.

The unrest occurred a day after District Magistrate Medha Roopam held a meeting with the state’s Principal Secretary (Labour) and Labour Commissioner to discuss worker welfare issues.

What happened?

The protest escalated into violence with incidents of stone-pelting and vandalism of vehicles and property. A heavy police deployment was made in the area to bring the situation under control, and tear gas shells were used to disperse the crowd.

According to reports, over 300 people were arrested under preventive provisions for arson and vandalism. More than 100 others were detained for questioning.

"After the labourers dispersed peacefully, a group from outside the district arrived in the areas bordering neighbouring districts. They moved around attempting to incite tension and provoke violence. We have taken some members of this group into custody, and we are identifying the remaining individuals to initiate appropriate action against them," Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Pakistan-link claim

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar has described Monday's violent protest as a “well-planned conspiracy”.

He said authorities are probing a possible Pakistan link following recent terror-related arrests in the region.

"The incident appears to have been carried out with the intention of disrupting the development and law and order of the state. In recent days, four suspected terrorists have been arrested from Meerut and Noida, whose links were connected to handlers based in Pakistan. In such a situation, the possibility of a conspiracy to create instability in the state gains strength. Agencies are seriously investigating the entire matter," Rajbhar was quoted as saying by India Today.

What were the workers demanding?

The protesting workers are demanding a salary hike along with bonus payments, timely wages, overtime compensation, and weekly offs.

They have also sought the formation of a sexual harassment committee, a grievance redressal cell, and the issuance of salary slips.