By Dr. Gyan Pathak
As the Union Government of India have slowly been rolling out provisions of new labour codes, towards their full implementation from April 1, 2026, an industrial unrest has just erupted today April 13, 2026 in Noida in Uttar Pradesh, and then spread in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) in Faridabad and Manesar (Gurugram) in Haryana, Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, Delhi and several other places. The industrial areas not only witnessed blocking of roads by protesting workers demanding salary hikes, but also violence, torching of vehicles, clashes with police, stone pelting, vandalisation of factories, and heavy police deployment who also resorted to canning and force to control the protesters at several places. Police said it was using minimal force to keep the situation under control.
After eruption of workers’ protest in Noida, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has directed authorities to take strict action against “anti-social” elements trying to instigate workers claiming that people must be careful of a “conspiracy to revive almost-dead Naxalims.” He also said, “Those creating nuisance in the name of workers must face strict action and security must be beefed up in industrial areas.” The state labour department has been asked to hold talks with local authorities and industrial units.
CM Yogi Adityanath has, however, said that every worker should get a respectable salary, a safe working environment and basic facilities. He called on industrial units to follow labour laws and address the issues raised by workers.
Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna said that police are identifying individuals who allegedly instigated violence during workers’ protests in Noida, warning that strict action will be taken against them. He said that “provocative elements” and “external elements” involved in the unrest are being traced.
Uttar Pradesh ATS has started a probe for possible infiltration links to the factory workers’ protest. ATS is examining whether the pattern of arson during the protest, particularly the way vehicles were set ablaze, matches methods allegedly used under the direction of Pakistani handlers to incite unrest.
Samajwadi Party chief and former CM of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav has blamed the BJP government’s “one-sided policies” for the violent protests by workers in Noida, alleging the regime favours capitalists while neglecting salaried employees and labourers. He said that the agitation over wage hike had turned aggressive due to policies that “nurture capitalists but exploit workers”.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai criticized the government for mishandling the situation and said that the visuals from outside the Motherson company in Noida were “disturbing”. In his post of X, he said, “When inflation is breaking people’s backs and workers are being exploited in the name of wages, the youth will be forced to come out on the streets.” He also said, “Advertisements cannot fill empty stomachs. Tear gas shells cannot answer hunger. Stop ignoring the legitimate demands of workers and find a solution instead of resorting to repression.”
It is worth noting that Hundreds of Motherson workers, protesting for better pay, have barged inside the factory and were not allowing senior staff members to leave the premises.
The protest became violent at Phase 2 Noida, and vandlised a police van and other vehicles, where workers from several industrial units were protesting around midday demanding salary hike and other benefits. The protests then spread in other parts of Noida. Protests have already impacted traffic since morning. The workers have been protesting for the last several days, demanding wage hike and better working conditions, and they were given assurances by were not implemented.
It was only yesterday, April 12, officials have announced measures including weekly offs, double overtime pay, bonuses and improved workplace safety. Earlier, Noida district magistrate Medha Roopam had appealed to workers not to heed rumours. She had released an appeal, “All worker brothers and sisters, please reach your workplace peacefully and carry out your work, and cooperate in maintaining harmony and law and order in the district. Do not pay attention to rumours.” She has also released Control Room numbers for workers’ assistance.
The protests in Noida have started after minimum wage hike of 35 per cent announcement by Haryana government on April 9, to be effective from April 1. Before the announcement workers in Manesar in Gurugram in Haryana had started their agitation on April 3. demanding hike in minimum wages. After Manesar, Noida workers had started their protests demanding from Uttar Pradesh government to increase their minimum wages.
The impact of the Noida protests soon escalated to Delhi with disruption in traffic. Delhi police have been put on high alert and security has been tightened on borders to prevent anti-social elements entering in Delhi in the garb of workers. Barricading on roads and checking of vehicles are put in place. Delhi Police has said it is fully alert and vigilant, adding that adequate force has been deployed at all strategic locations.
The protest soon intensified and the situation turned severe at Chilla border, Sector 62, Noida, where workers blocked the road during peak hours in the morning. It disrupted traffic on Noida Link Road coming from Chilla Border (Delhi).
Workers’ unions from Uttar Pradesh gathered near the Delhi-Noida border and staged a demonstration, blocking stretches of the road and hampering vehicular movement. The protests even spilled over to neighbouring Faridabad causing widespread traffic disruptions across key routes. Ghaziabad Police has also been put on high alert in view of the protests in Noida.
In Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, as it-in protest by workers of Suprajit Engineering Limited turned aggressive and started blocking the road. Then police resorted to lathicharge. Several workers have been detained by police. (IPA Service)
