Noida labour unrest: UP orders interim hike in minimum wages

PTI

Noida

The Uttar Pradesh government has directed an interim hike in minimum wages across worker categories following unrest in Noida, with revised rates coming into effect from April 1 retrospectively,  officials here said on Tuesday.

The wage hike translates into an increase of up to Rs 3,000 across categories, with workers in Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad witnessing a rise of up to 21 per cent in their monthly earnings, they said

The process for final wage fixation would be taken up through a wage board to be constituted soon, and the government is also considering additional welfare measures related to workers’ health, pension and education of their children, industrial development commissioner Deepak Kumar said.

The wage increase has been done by the high-powered committee, formed to look into the labour issues after large-scale protests by factory workers in Noida on Monday, to provide immediate financial relief to the workers, the officials said.

“The decision was approved by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh late last night,” Gautam Buddh Nagar district magistrate Medha Roopam said.

According to a statement, the committee is working towards resolving industrial discord through dialogue and coordination, while also considering further measures to address workers’ concerns. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to employers to ensure timely payment of wages, proper overtime compensation, weekly offs, bonuses and social security benefits, while maintaining safe working conditions, particularly for female workers, the statement said.

In Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, unskilled workers will now get Rs 13,690 per month, up from Rs 11,313, while semi-skilled workers will receive Rs 15,059, and skilled workers Rs 16,868, according to an official statement.

For other municipal corporation areas, the revised monthly wages have been fixed at Rs 13,006 for unskilled workers, Rs 14,306 for semi-skilled workers, and Rs 16,025 for skilled workers.

In the remaining districts, unskilled workers will get Rs 12,356 per month, semi-skilled workers Rs 13,591, and skilled workers Rs 15,224.  The decision follows consultations with employers’ bodies and labour organisations.

The government said suggestions and objections were examined to ensure a “balanced and practical” outcome.

The statement said that industries are facing global economic challenges, including rising input costs and declining exports, even as workers’ demands regarding wages, overtime, safety and working conditions remain “relevant and important.”