The industrial hubs of Noida Phase-2 and Sector 60 were engulfed in widespread unrest on Monday, April 13, 2026, as thousands of factory workers took to the streets.
What began as a sit-in demonstration for better pay quickly escalated into violent clashes with police, arson, and traffic gridlock that paralyzed the Delhi-Noida border.
Noida Workers Core Demands: Pay Parity and Fixed Hours
At the heart of the protest is a demand for a significant hike in the minimum wage.
Currently, many workers in Uttar Pradesh earn approximately Rs 13,000 per month. Protesters are demanding this be raised to Rs 20,000 for a standard 8-hour shift.
A recent wage revision in neighboring Haryana, which hiked the minimum wage to roughly Rs 19,000, sparked this specific movement.
Workers in Noida argue that the cost of living—including rising house rents and inflation—makes the current pay disparity between the two states unsustainable.
“I work 12 hours a day for just Rs 13,000,” one female worker noted, highlighting the grueling overtime that often goes uncompensated at legal rates.
Read Also: 1,000 Workers Behind Noida Airport Face Job Cuts
Escalation into Violence and Arson
The situation turned volatile in the Hosiery Complex of Phase-2 and Sector 84. Reports indicate that protesters set at least two vehicles, including a police van, on fire.
Protesters also resorted to stone-pelting and vandalism of factory properties.
In response, a massive deployment of the Noida Police used mild force and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Traffic was severely impacted as protesters blocked National Highway 9 and other major arteries, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours.
Administration and Corporate Response
District Magistrate Medha Roopam held meetings with labor officials and factory owners just 24 hours prior. This was an attempt to prevent the escalation.
The administration had promised stricter implementation of the POSH Act, double payment for overtime, and timely annual bonuses.
However, the scale of Monday’s unrest suggests that these verbal assurances have failed to satisfy a workforce that feels ignored.
Authorities have now established a control room to handle grievances. However, labor unions maintain that only a formal notification of a wage hike will end the stalemate.
Note: We are also on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and YouTube to get the latest news updates. Subscribe to our Channels. WhatsApp– Click Here, YouTube – Click Here, and LinkedIn– Click Here.
About the Author
Sahiba Sharma
Contributing Writer