New Delhi:A massive protest by factory workers in Noida has turned violent, with agitators vandalising vehicles and throwing stones as police try to bring the situation under control. Visuals show protesting workers vandalising a police van and other vehicles at Phase 2 of Noida, where several factories are located.

The workers from several industrial units are protesting in demand of a salary hike and other benefits. Reinforcements have been rushed to the spot to prevent any untoward situation. The protests have led to traffic congestion on key roads in Noida on a Monday morning.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said workers must get their due and industries must follow labour laws.

He, however, directed authorities to take strict action against anti-social elements trying to instigate workers.Over the past few days, the factory workers have been protesting in demand of a wage hike and better working conditions.

The protests began after the Haryana government announced a 35 per cent hike in the minimum wage for unskilled workers, raising it from Rs 11,274 per month to Rs 15,220. The minimum wage of semi-skilled workers in Haryana has been hiked from Rs 12,430.18 to Rs 16,780.74 per month.

The minimum pay for skilled and highly skilled workers have also been hiked by 35 per cent.  Workers in Noida are now demanding that the Uttar Pradesh government hike the minimum wages, arguing that their contemporaries in Haryana are getting paid more for the same job.

The workers are also raising unsafe workplaces, lack of weekly offs and absence of grievance redressal mechanisms.

Lakshmi, one of the protesting workers, said, "We are just asking for two things. One is overtime pay, and the other is a minimum wage of Rs 20,000 a month. We are being exploited in our company. We aren't given meals at the proper time, and there is no safety for women."

Source:Ndtv