As Haryana hikes minimum wages, workers protest on streets in Noida, demand pay parity

Noida: A day after a labour protest in Gurgaon, around a thousand contractual garment workers from factories at Hosiery Complex in Phase 2 staged a daylong demonstration on Friday for wage parity with their counterparts in Haryana.

The Haryana govt on Thursday notified a 35% hike in minimum wages for unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled workers.The protest began around 9 am in Phase 2’s B Block, where workers, many of them women, blocked traffic before being moved to a nearby park by police, who assured them that company and administration officials would come to address their grievances. The demonstration turned tense by afternoon when protesters became restive, drawing a heavy deployment of over 1,200 personnel.Among the companies whose workers participated were Richa Global Exports, Sahu Exports, Paramount Exports, Rainbow Fabart and Anubhav Apparels. Work across the complex, which has around 300 factories, was partially disrupted throughout the day.Workers in Noida’s garment belt, many of whom work for companies that also operate units in Gurgaon and Manesar, said the pay disparity was large.“Our current minimum wage for unskilled labour is around Rs 435 a day, while in Haryana it has been raised to Rs 585,” said Tularam, one of the protesters.

“We were taken to the park with the promise that company officials would come to listen to us, but no one came.”Another worker, who asked not to be named, said the demand was straightforward. “Our companies have branches in Gurgaon and Manesar too. If those workers got a raise, we should get the same. We do the same work,” she said. Another worker, Kumkum, pointed to the compounding pressure of a parallel LPG shortage. “How do we survive on Rs 11,000 to Rs 13,000 a month when black-market gas is going for Rs 400 a kg and we still have rent and ration to pay?” she said.By 1 pm, protesters broke out of the park and began marching towards Dadri main road, disrupting traffic. As police moved to stop the crowd, clashes broke out. Police resorted to a lathi charge as protesters pelted stones.Additional commissioner of police Rajeev Narayan Mishra reached the spot, along with additional district magistrate Manglesh Dubey and assistant labour commissioner Suyash Pandey.Protesters continued their demonstration until around 6 pm at Phase 2’s flower market area, after which they dispersed following a written assurance from the assistant labour commissioner that their demands would be escalated to higher authorities.“Noida hosiery complex workers’ demands have come after Haryana’s wage hike. We have assured the protesters that their demands will be raised to the govt,” Pandey said.