The recent workers’ protests in the National Capital Region have taken place against the backdrop of the nationwide strike on February 12. The way this movement, which began in Manesar (Gurgaon) in April, has spread to Noida after the contract labor movement at the Panipat Refinery in Haryana in late February, and has spread throughout the NCR, is unprecedented. This workers’ revolt, born in a specific environment, has exposed severe exploitation, poor working conditions and extreme economic distress. It proves that there is a limit to tolerance and that workers also have power - if it is unleashed, it can shake the foundations of the system.

Why did workers take to streets?

This movement began in Manesar, Gurgaon, Haryana. This was because labour laws are being flouted in industries. A large number of contract labourers have been recruited for permanent jobs, working on production lines. Yet, they receive not even one-sixth of the wages of permanent workers, even though they are working on the same line. Despite 15 years of service, they receive a salary of Rs 10,000-11,000. They are required to work 12 hours a day but are not paid double for overtime. In many places, workers suffer from a lack of weekly holidays and inadequate workplace safety. Employers extort Rs 21 from garment industry workers in the name of a monthly toilet fee. Sexual violence against women workers is also common in the garment industry. The situation worsened after the US-Israeli attack on Iran, which led to a shortage of cooking gas.  Millions of workers living in cities, working for such low wages, were surviving on cooking gas purchased from the market for Rs 80-90 per kilo. Suddenly, this price increased to Rs 400-500 per kilo. This increase, coupled with rising inflation, added fuel to the fire. Due to the lack of wage increases for a long time, workers' lives became difficult, leaving them with no other option but to take to the streets. First, contract workers at Honda began a strike demanding a wage increase. Following this, contract workers from dozens of automobile companies joined the strike one after another. On April 8, thousands of workers from garment units took to the streets.

Minimum Wage Not Revised

The last wage revision in Haryana took place in October 2015 and was implemented from November 1, 2015. According to the law, the minimum wage should be revised every five years. The stipulated five-year period ended in October 2020. However, to benefit employers, the wage revision was not carried out. Repeated protests were held over the past several years, and CITU organized a series of campaigns. Under widespread pressure, the government formed a committee to recommend a minimum wage revision in May 2025. The CITU Haryana State Committee demanded a minimum wage of Rs 30,000 based on established criteria. This committee held nine meetings from May to December 2025. The committee's ninth meeting, held in Panipat on December 29, unanimously passed a proposal for a minimum wage of Rs 23,196. This committee included representatives from the Labour Department, industry owners and trade unions. It was sent to the government but was not accepted. Instead, in the state budget speech on March 2, the Chief Minister announced a minimum wage of Rs 15,200. The entire month of March has passed, but no steps were taken to implement this announcement. Rising inflation, the lack of wage increases, and the rising price of domestic cooking gas have shattered the workers' patience.

Pressure from Workers’ Movement

On April 8, workers in Manesar (Gurgaon) staged a strike and protested at the SDM office. Over 10,000 workers, including a large number of women, participated. The growing workers' struggle created an atmosphere of fear among the district administration and employers. Consequently, despite the absence of a minimum wage agenda for the Cabinet meeting on April 8, the Cabinet immediately discussed the matter and the Chief Minister himself was forced to come live at 4 p.m. to announce the wage increase. The decision was made to increase the current wage from Rs 11,274 to Rs 15,220. The following day, on April 9, thousands of workers took to the streets, and under this pressure, the notification was issued that day.

Movement Spreads to Three States in NCR

The movement, which began in Manesar (Gurgaon) in Haryana, spread to several districts in the National Capital Region (NCR) in three states. Dozens of factory workers in Noida (Uttar Pradesh) went on strike on April 10. In addition to automobiles, strikes also broke out in garment units with plants in Manesar and Noida. The anger against oppression and exploitation among workers was so intense that thousands of workers from hundreds of factories in Noida joined the movement. These workers were not in any union or under any leader. However, the peaceful protest continued for several days. After the Haryana government's wage hike, Noida workers hoped that the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh would also raise the minimum wage. The entire movement ignited a passion and a desire to achieve something among the workers. The impact of this movement was so strong that thousands of domestic workers in Noida also joined the strike demanding a wage increase.  Under pressure from such a massive movement, the UP BJP government was finally forced to increase the minimum wage, from Rs 11,313 to Rs 13,690. However, this was implemented as a dearness allowance, applicable only in two districts: Noida and Ghaziabad. In other municipal corporations, the increase was to Rs 13,006, while the increased level was Rs 12,356 for the rest of the state.

Similarly, workers in Bhiwadi and Nimrana areas of Alwar district in Rajasthan also went on strike. These movements were spontaneous. Workers in Haryana's Faridabad, Palwal, Karnal-Panipat, and Sonipat districts took to the streets to demand a Rs 20,000 minimum wage and the implementation of the announced wage. Thousands of workers, a significant number of whom were women, blocked the Agra-Delhi National Highway. However, the government and administration attempted to suppress these movements through police repression.

Police Attack on the Movement

The workers considered the Haryana Cabinet's decision and the Chief Minister's announcement of Rs 15,220 as insufficient and, anticipating a delay in the notification or non-implementation of this announcement, decided to continue their movement peacefully. On April 8, the police imposed Section 163 of the BNS, banning the gathering of more than five people. On April 9, when workers were peacefully protesting at factory gates, the police, citing Section 163, lathi-charged them without warning, injuring more than 20 workers. Police arrested 55 workers, including 20 women, who were held overnight at the police station and were produced before a court on April 10. The police have registered two FIRs. One FIR alleges attempted murder, which is not bailable.  In the Manesar agitation, 11 workers were sent to 14-day judicial custody under these sections. Six others were later arrested and jailed as prime accused. A total of 61 workers and trade union activists were arrested. Police also issued notices to CITU Haryana State General Secretary Jai Bhagwan and Vice President Vinod Kumar for inciting the agitation. Similarly, a case was filed against workers in Prithla, Palwal. Hundreds of workers were detained while peacefully protesting at the Madrashan Company gate in Faridabad.

In Noida, the UP government unleashed a fierce repression campaign, resulting in lathi charge and large-scale arrests. CITU Noida leaders Gangeshwar Dutt and Ramsagar were placed under house arrest. Police cordoned off CITU's Noida office. At the time of writing this report, over 400 workers have been arrested, a significant proportion of whom are women.  Similarly, in Bhiwadi and other places in Alwar district of Rajasthan, workers have been brutally lathi-charged. Even women were not spared. Many workers were injured. Most of the arrests made in Manesar, Noida, Bhiwadi, and Faridabad were of ordinary labourers. The police and the ruling class are doing this to prevent workers from daring to do something like this again.

Need for Uniform Wages for NCR

In addition to Delhi, the National Capital Region includes 14 of Haryana's 23 districts (Gurgaon, Rewari, Faridabad, Palwal, Nuh, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Jind, Bhiwani, Dadri, Mahendragarh), 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh (Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), Greater Noida, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, Hapur, Muzaffarnagar), and 2 districts of Rajasthan (Bharatpur and Alwar). The minimum wages in these four states vary. It is ₹19,846 in Delhi, ₹15,220 in Haryana, ₹11,313 in Uttar Pradesh, and ₹7,410 in Rajasthan, per month. The cost of living is similar in most districts in the NCR region. House rents and other daily necessities are expensive. Industrial units are also concentrated here. Factory owners are expanding from one unit to several in these states year after year.  Shifting from one place to another is also common. The central government has a uniform plan for the development and expansion of this sector. Therefore, the minimum wage should also be uniform here and it should be at least Rs 26,000 per month. The process of determining the minimum wage has been going on in Haryana for the last one year and the owners had also accepted it as Rs 23,196. Therefore, the minimum wage should not be less than this. Whereas on the fixed basis, it comes to Rs 30,000 per month.

Repression will not Stop This Movement

It will now be difficult to suppress this movement with force. This movement has once again reestablished the working class's ability to fight and achieve. Despite being confined to a very limited area, it has emerged as a ray of hope for the country's 540 million working population. It challenges the capitalist system of exploitation of the working people. The BJP's Modi government has decided to implement draconian laws such as labor codes, which prohibit organising, eliminate the right to form unions, and eliminate permanent employment. The upcoming protests will force the government to redefine these laws as well. CITU has strongly criticised the government for its suppression of this movement. It has consistently supported the workers and participated in this movement. On April 13, memorandums were submitted across Haryana. On July 16, demonstrations were held in Haryana and across the country in support of the movement's demands.  CITU National President Sudip Dutta, General Secretary Elamaram Karim, and Secretary A.R. Sindhu visited Noida to meet with the affected workers. They spoke with the district administration and demanded immediate action to stop this repression and address the workers' demands. CITU demands:

1. A minimum wage of Rs 26,000 be implemented.

2. Police repression against workers should immediately cease.

3. Arrested workers should be immediately released, injured workers should receive treatment, and all FIRs should be cancelled.

4. LPG gas should be provided to all workers at the government rate.

5. Double wages for overtime should be ensured. Labor laws should be strictly enforced.

6. All demands of the protesting workers should be addressed.

7. All four anti-worker Labour Codes should be withdrawn.