Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M.A. Baby has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking urgent intervention to address the concerns of striking workers across Delhi-NCR and nearby industrial hubs. He cited deteriorating living conditions, low wages, and alleged police action against protesters.
In his letter dated April 18, Baby said visits to industrial areas, including Noida, revealed that resentment has been building among workers due to “extremely harsh working conditions, abysmal wages, and workplace accidents.” He added that gas shortages and rising inflation over the past month have further aggravated their distress.
Highlighting wage disparities, he noted that statutory minimum wages range from ₹11,314 in Uttar Pradesh to ₹18,456 in Delhi, which he described as insufficient given the high cost of living in the National Capital Region. He said these wages are inadequate even for basic needs such as accommodation, food, and rent, and added that workers in the unorganised sector often earn even less.
The CPI(M) leader also alleged that authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have responded to protests with severe police action, treating them as law-and-order issues rather than labour concerns. He called for a tripartite mechanism involving the government, employers, and workers to resolve the disputes.
According to the letter, several workers have been detained, placed under house arrest, or prevented from organising, while political leaders and trade union representatives have allegedly been denied access to protest sites. Baby said he personally faced such restrictions in Noida, where authorities declined to meet a delegation that included Members of Parliament.
He urged the Prime Minister to ensure the release of detained workers, halt what he termed intimidation and false cases, and restore normal trade union activities. He also proposed a uniform minimum wage of at least ₹26,000 per month across Delhi-NCR, citing rising inflation.
As interim relief, he suggested providing subsidised LPG cylinders to migrant workers without registered connections, noting that increasing fuel costs have added to financial stress. He also raised concerns about new labour codes, warning that they could weaken existing worker protections.
The appeal comes amid continuing labour unrest in parts of northern India, where workers have been protesting over wages, working conditions, and rising living costs. The situation has implications for industrial relations and economic stability in the region.