Noida, April 14: The workers’ protest, which has been going on for several days in Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida) district demanding a wage hike, is turning more violent.
On Tuesday, for the sixth day, workers created a ruckus by pelting stones and vandalizing several areas of Noida. Workers are also staging protests outside factories in several industrial areas. Work has come to a standstill in many industrial units amid the tension.
Despite the relief provided by the Uttar Pradesh government, the workers’ violent protests remain unabated. As a result, 80 percent of the companies in Noida and Greater Noida remained closed today. Industrialists are hesitant to reopen their factories due to the workers’ agitation. Workers turned violent at several places today. Workers also pelted stones and vandalized the premises near Cleo County Society in Sector 70. Workers also targeted policemen. The police managed to control the situation.
In addition to Sector 70, workers in Sector 80 also became extremely agitated this morning. Protesters gathered outside several factories in Sector 80 and attempted to take the law into their own hands. However, the already alert police prevented the situation from escalating. Police have detained more than 15 people who threw stones in Sector 70.
The Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP), Law and Order, Rajiv Narayan Mishra, stated that a heavy police presence has been deployed in various industrial areas since this morning.
The Additional Commissioner of Police apprised on the situation that peace has largely prevailed in city, with only isolated incidents reported.
The administration confirmed that workers’ wage hike and other demands have been accepted, appealing to them to return to work peacefully.
The Additional Commissioner of Police stated, “Strict action is being taken against the rioters. They are being identified and arrested based on video clips from Monday and today’s protests.” Police have so far arrested more than 300 individuals, registered seven FIRs, and sued two former handles for spreading misleading news. Security has been tightened across sensitive areas to maintain order.
According to the district administration, within 24 hours of Monday’s violent protests, the government hiked the minimum wage for all categories of workers, making the revised rates effective April 1.
The Gautam Buddha Nagar district magistrate (DM) Medha Roopam said the wage hike was approved by a high-powered committee. The decision was approved by the Chief Minister late last night.
She added that unskilled workers in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad will now receive a minimum wage of Rs 13,690 per month instead of Rs 11,313, while semi-skilled workers will receive a minimum wage of Rs 15,059 and skilled workers will receive Rs 16,868. In other municipal corporation areas, the revised monthly wages have been fixed at Rs 13,06 for unskilled workers, Rs 14,306 for semi-skilled workers, and Rs 16,025 for skilled workers. In the remaining districts, unskilled workers will receive Rs 12,356 per month, semi-skilled workers Rs 13,591 and skilled workers Rs 15,224 per month.