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The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a major increase in minimum wages for all categories of workers, which will be retroactive to April 1, 2026. The decision was taken late Monday night after the approval of a high-level committee and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The decision came in response to massive protests by factory workers in Noida, which turned violent on April 13.

According to Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Medha Rupam, the revised monthly wages in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad (the highest category) are as follows:

– Unskilled laborers: ₹13,690 (previously ₹11,313 — an increase of about ₹2,377)
– Semi-skilled: ₹15,059
– Skilled: ₹16,868

In other municipal corporation areas: ₹13,006 (unskilled), ₹14,306 (semi-skilled), and ₹16,025 (skilled). In the rest of the districts: ₹12,356 (unskilled), ₹13,591 (semi-skilled), and ₹15,224 (skilled). In Noida-Ghaziabad areas this increase is up to 21%.

The government said the amendment was made after talks with employers’ organizations and labor groups, with the aim of finding a “balanced” outcome amid rising inflation. Thousands of workers protested in Noida’s industrial areas (Phase 2, Sectors 60, 62, etc.) demanding higher wages (many were demanding ₹18,000–20,000 monthly), better working conditions and weekly off. These demonstrations disrupted traffic and turned violent, involving stone pelting, arson and vandalism, leading to the arrest of over 300–350 people.

Uttar Pradesh Labor Minister Anil Rajbhar described the violence as a “well-planned conspiracy” to disturb law and order and development of the state. Referring to the recent arrests of four suspected terrorists linked to Pakistan-based handlers in Meerut and Noida, he said the agencies were investigating the possibility of any external instigation. The wage revision is being seen as an interim measure to restore peace even as protests continued on Tuesday.