Stop Trying to hide Noida workers protests, says DUJ
14/04/2026
New Delhi,April 14 (KIP)-The Delhi Union of Journalists(DUJ), condemns the severe police action against striking factory workers of NOIDA and the attack on some reporters covering the protests on April 13, 2026. Reporters were also reportedly lathicharged and Dainik Bhaskar reporter Saket Anand was hit by a danda. Some 350 workers have been arrested for vandalism and arson and another 100 detained for questioning, as per reports. Some CITU leaders are also stated to be in house arrest and reporters are not being allowed to meet them.
An estimated 45,000 workers, both women and men, have been on strike for several days demanding better wages. The administration and factory managements largely ignored the protests until desperate workers blocked major roads on April 13. The massive traffic jams between Delhi and NOIDA finally forced the media to cover the protests, especially as a few vehicles were burnt and some factories attacked.
Simultaneously, what could turn out to be a spontaneous movement is emerging among workers in Gautam Budha Nagar in parts, amidst workers demands and sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities. It is a matter of record that a protest delegation of CITU Delhi-NCR Committee and Kisan Sabha leaders staged a protest and sit-in at the District Magistrate's office today. In the District Magistrate's absence, the delegation submitted a memorandum to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), warning that if the trade union leaders were not released and the workers were not included in the negotiations, CITU would launch a widespread and sustained movement throughout Gautam Buddha Nagar, for which the Uttar Pradesh government would be fully responsible. It is also understood that the rise in cooking Gas prices is aggravating the situation.
Yogi Adityanath’s government has belatedly announced a 21% wage hike, with the minimum wage for unskilled workers in NOIDA-Ghaziabad raised to Rs 13690 per month and slightly higher wages for other categories of workers. However, the workers have been demanding parity with new minimum wages announced in Haryana. They are asking for a minimum wage of Rs 20,000, four monthly paid holidays, proper payment for overtime and better working conditions in the factories. The average Rs 10,000 paid to many workers is barely enough to keep body and soul together, given spiraling inflation. Forced overtime and 12-hour workdays, without proper overtime wages, aggravates the exploitation of workers.
The Delhi Union of Journalists expects action against the policemen who attacked the Dainik Bhaskar reporter. We also expect the government of Uttar Pradesh to oversee implementation of the higher wages announced. Most NOIDA factories have no unions and unionization is discouraged by both the factory owners and government. In the absence of recognized unions both the employers and the administration are finding it difficult to conduct negotiations with striking employees.
The administration has blamed various ‘anti-national elements’ for the protests but needs to recognize and address problems that workers face instead of finding scapegoats. There is an urgent need for proper unionization of the workers so that fair wages and working conditions can be peacefully negotiated. Many of these factories are highly profitable, as their balance sheets reveal. Several are listed on the stock exchange. They can certainly pay living wages.