Thousands of factory workers took to the streets in Noida on 15 April 2026, expressing their frustration and exhaustion through protests, vehicle burnings, and confrontations with law enforcement. Their discontent stemmed from working long hours, often ranging from ten to twelve hours a day, without significant wage increases over the past decade. The workers demanded a monthly salary of Rs 20,000, translating to approximately Rs 769 per day, highlighting the disparity between their needs and the wages they currently receive.

Government Response to Protests

In reaction to the substantial protests, the Uttar Pradesh government announced a temporary wage increase of 21 per cent for unskilled workers in Noida and Ghaziabad. Officials described this response as both sensitive and timely, aiming to quell the unrest. However, many workers dismissed this wage hike as insufficient, underscoring their ongoing struggle for fair compensation in light of rising living costs.

The situation in Noida is indicative of a broader issue affecting factory workers across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, where real wage growth has stagnated over the years. Despite the demands made by workers, the wage increases across various sectors and regions have not kept pace with inflation, making it difficult for families to sustain their lifestyles.

Data illustrates the dismal wage landscape in Uttar Pradesh; in 2016, unskilled workers earned Rs 305 per day, while semi-skilled and skilled workers received Rs 342 and Rs 277 respectively. As of 2026, those figures have only incremented to Rs 500, Rs 550, and Rs 616, respectively, with only skilled workers surpassing the double wage mark over the ten-year span.

Wage Disparities Across Regions

In Haryana, the statistics tell a similar story of stagnation and disappointment. In 2016, unskilled workers earned Rs 310 per day, semi-skilled workers Rs 326, and skilled workers Rs 359. By 2026, these figures had risen to Rs 585, Rs 645, and Rs 712, respectively, revealing that no category of workers in Haryana achieved any significant wage doubling in a decade.

Delhi presents a contrasting picture, being the only region where wages across all worker categories have doubled since 2016. Unskilled workers earned Rs 337 per day in 2016, while semi-skilled and skilled workers made Rs 373 and Rs 410. Presently, these earnings stand at Rs 710 for unskilled, Rs 784 for semi-skilled, and Rs 862 for skilled workers. Nonetheless, this growth remains slow relative to rising living costs and economic pressures.

The protests have drawn attention to the significant geographical wage disparities within the industrial workforce. A skilled worker in Delhi earns Rs 862 per day, while the same role in Uttar Pradesh pays only Rs 616, marking a daily income gap of Rs 246 or around Rs 6,000 per month. This disparity highlights the urgent need for equitable wage policies across regions to ensure fair pay for all workers, regardless of their location.

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