Noida Workers Demand ₹20,000 as Labour Codes Spark Protests
Noida Workers Demand ₹20,000 as Labour Codes Spark Protests
Rahul Gandhi condemns Labour Codes as Noida workers push for ₹20,000, while UP announces interim salary revisions amid security concerns and conspiracy talk.
Rahul Gandhi attacked the Modi government for pushing Labour Codes ‘without consultation’, arguing that workers are being forced to endure 12-hour days without a matching rise in wages. “Noida’s worker is demanding ₹20,000. This isn’t greed — it’s his right, the sole foundation of his life,” he said, adding that he stands with every worker who has been “reduced to a burden” by the government.
Protests in Noida drew flowing political narrative as officials flagged potential outsider involvement. The labour minister called the unrest a ‘well-planned conspiracy’, citing recent arrests in Meerut and Noida of individuals said to have links to handlers based in Pakistan. The chief minister went further, suggesting that the protests could be tied to attempts to revive Naxalism and stressing the need to safeguard development and law and order. Authorities say they are investigating the matter.
Amid the unrest, the UP government announced an interim revision of the salary structure, divided into three categories: Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida)–Ghaziabad; cities with municipal corporations; and other districts. The revised rates will be effective from April 1. The move is presented as a responsive measure to take immediate steps while the broader labour reform debate continues.
As the protest persists, workers insist that fair wages must go hand in hand with reasonable hours, and officials emphasize balancing reform with the needs of development. The coming days are likely to see continued attention on wages, working hours, and the political narratives surrounding labour codes.
