האגודה הישראלית לחקר יחסי עבודה

job on Friday. The twin cities together boasts of 9,200 industrial units which employ nearly 7 lakh workers. Friday's situation was in sharp contrast to the CITU strike in 2013 when Noida witnessed a major labour unrest resulting in damages worth crores of rupees to the industrial units.

"The strike was not a success because we had explained to our workers that our industries support their welfare. As and when the Union government brings changes to the labour laws, we will extend the facilities to our workers. We can't go beyond our existing labour laws. We are in favour of the welfare of our workers, be it health or social security," Vipin Malhan, president, Noida Entrepreneurs Association, said.

Apart from other demands, the trade unions of Noida and Greater Noida had made an extra demand of raising the minimum wages to Rs 20,000. The present minimum wages is at par with the rest of the country at Rs 8,680.

"Increasing the minimum wages is ultimately detrimental to the economy and the industry, because it would only add to the price of the products and sales would dip. So, while we agree that wages need to increase to match inflation rates, we cannot increase it to a level where the entire industry suffers," Rajiv Bansal, chairman, Indian Industries Association, Noida, said.

"The strike had no major impact on the city industries. Only when a workforce depletion of over 10% happens it can be labelled as a man-hour lost. The average absenteeism of workers was nearly 5%. While many factories kept themselves shut in apprehension of strikes, for those who operated on the day, it went smoothly," Daljeet Singh, president, Noida Industrial Welfare Association, said.

"We are in favour of new labour laws and we believe that it will be to the advantage of the workers. We have explained this to the workers and labourers today. The employees have to work in synergy with industry," B K Rai, deputy labour commissioner, Gautam Budh Nagar, said.

However, the workers described the day's protest a success. "Nearly 500 workers took out a procession through the industrial districts. We have taken our demands to the administrative heads of the city. In our view, the protest was successful," Gangeshwar Sharma, district president, CITU, said.

"We feel like bounded labourers. The factory management gives us a meagre salary and make us work like donkeys. There is a need to revisit the labour laws," said Mohit Kumar, a factory worker in Phase II area.

Meanwhile, the police had deployed water cannons, tear gas squads and fire tenders at industrial areas which had a troubled history.

District magistrate NP Singh said that the administration took preventive measures. "If a worker wants to take part in strike, the company shall not force him to work. Similarly, if a person wants to work, the trade union members shall not force him to join strike. That was our stand," he said.

Original Source