Noida: After two days of protests by factory workers over low minimum wages, the Noida administration on Sunday rolled out a set of safeguards aimed at easing tensions across the industrial belt.It announced a compulsory weekly off for all workers, double pay for overtime and work on weekly holidays, annual bonus before Nov 30, salary disbursal by the 10th of every month, medical cover, workplace safety measures and a formal complaints system to address harassment.The decisions were taken at a joint meeting at the Noida Authority office in Sector 6, attended by district magistrate Medha Rupam, Authority CEO Krishna Karunesh, police commissioner Laxmi Singh and other officials. Senior labour department officials, including principal secretary MKS Sundaram and labour commissioner Markandey Shahi, joined virtually.Rupam said the administration had spent the past few days holding talks with industrial units and was committed to protecting workers’ interests. She said factories had been asked to ensure a weekly off for every worker and pay double if anyone is made to work on that day. Overtime, too, must be paid at double the rate.The administration also said workers would be paid their annual bonus before Nov 30. To deal with complaints of harassment, a committee headed by a woman will be set up. Officials said factories must also ensure workers are treated with dignity and provided medical cover and safe working conditions.The protests had intensified in Phase 2 after Haryana govt recently raised monthly minimum wages from Rs 14,000 to Rs 19,000, a jump of about 35%. In UP, however, the minimum wage remains around Rs 13,000, a gap that has sharpened resentment among workers in the city’s factories.Sundaram said UP govt was in the process of revising labour laws and strengthening provisions related to minimum wages, timely and full payment, equal pay for equal work, overtime compensation, regulated working hours and social security benefits such as EPF and ESI.To handle complaints, the administration has also set up a control room with four helpline numbers — 0120-2978231, 0120-2978232, 0120-2978862 and 0120-2978702. Rupam also called for regular inspections of industrial units and asked officials to maintain continuous dialogue between workers and management so disputes can be resolved early.Noida and Greater Noida, major hubs for electronics, IT/ITES, apparel, textiles, automobiles, logistics and mobile manufacturing, employ more than 10 lakh people.Vipin Malhan, president of Noida Entrepreneurs Association, said workers’ anger was linked to Haryana’s wage revision. But he cautioned that a sharp increase would strain industry, especially after losses during Covid and disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict. Even so, he said, industry would comply with govt rules.
