The Uttar Pradesh government has hiked minimum wages for workers across categories, after a protest by thousands of factory workers from dozens of units across Noida’s industrial belt, demanding better wages and working conditions, turned violent on Monday.
The revised interim rates will come into effect from April 1, 2026, retrospectively, officials said.
This comes after a high-level committee set up by the UP Labour Department to resolve the dispute between workers and industries held discussions with all stakeholders. Workers had told The Indian Express that they were expecting an increase in wages after the implementation of the Labour Codes in November 2025. However, the wage revisions did not happen as expected, and the outbreak of the war in the Middle East and the shortage of cooking gas and the distress it has triggered in some sectors have deepened frustrations.
What will workers earn now
According to a statement, the revised wages vary across regions and skill levels — unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled — covering areas such as Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, other municipal corporation regions, and the rest of the state.
For Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad: The interim monthly wages have been increased to Rs 13,690 for unskilled workers from the earlier Rs 11,313; Rs 15,059 for semi-skilled workers from 12,445; and from Rs 13,940 to Rs 16,868 for skilled workers. Noida is home to footwear, textiles, and auto parts manufacturing units.
In other municipal corporation areas: The revised wages stand at Rs 13,006 (unskilled), Rs 14,306 (semi-skilled), and Rs 16,025 (skilled).
Revised rates come into effect from April 1 retrospectively
For the remaining districts: the interim wages have been fixed at Rs 12,356 for unskilled workers, Rs 13,591 for semi-skilled workers, and Rs 15,224 for skilled workers, the statement said.
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Behind the move: What the govt says
Officials said the revision has been carried out in line with provisions under the new Labour Law codes, with an aim to ensure a more balanced and realistic wage structure amid changing economic conditions.
The government also clarified that claims circulating on social media about a uniform minimum wage of Rs 20,000 per month are incorrect. “Such information is misleading and not based on official notifications,” the statement said. It said the process of determining a national “floor wage” under the new labour codes is underway at the central level and no such notification had been issued.
Highlighting the rationale behind the revision, the government said industries are currently navigating global and economic challenges, including rising input costs and fluctuations in demand, necessitating a balanced approach that safeguards both workers’ welfare and industrial stability.
The statement added that discussions are ongoing with stakeholders, including employer organisations and labour groups, and their suggestions are being considered before finalising a comprehensive wage framework.
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The government reiterated its commitment to workers’ welfare, stating that efforts are being made to ensure timely payment of wages, social security benefits, and safe working conditions across industries.
Crackdown on workers
A senior police officer told The Indian Express on Monday evening that between 40,000 and 45,000 workers flooded the streets at more than 80 locations in the industrial areas of Noida’s Phase 2 and Sectors 60, 62, and 84. More than 60 people had been detained, the officer said.
Police said seven FIRs had been registered at various police stations, and several “anti-social elements” had been taken into custody. FIRs had also been registered against two handles on X, police said. More than 50 bot accounts had been created in the past 24 hours to push “misleading narratives”, police said.
UP Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna had said the “provocative elements” and “external elements” involved in the violence were being traced, and “firm legal action will follow once their identities are established”.
Revised rates come into effect from April 1 retrospectively