Rising living expenses, fear of contract hiring cast shadow on real gains.
Factory workers in Manesar, India, clashed with police during a strike demanding higher wages, resulting in property damage and police intervention.
The Uttar Pradesh government has increased minimum wages across worker categories after protests in Noida, with the revised rates effective from April 1. The decision follows consultations with employers and labour organisations and aims to address demands for higher wages and better working conditions.
The Trump administration's proposed H-1B wage structure aims to increase pay for skilled overseas workers in the US by an average of $14,000, with Level I wages potentially rising to $97,746. This move, coupled with a weighted selection process favouring higher-skilled workers, is intended to curb abuse of visa programmes and ensure parity with American workers, but has already led to a sharp decline in H-1B applications, particularly from Indian IT companies.
Workers at an automotive components factory in Haryana, India, protested for two days demanding the implementation of a minimum wage hike announced by the state government. The protests led to detentions and police action, highlighting tensions over wages and working conditions.
The discord between the Samsung workers affiliated to the Samsung India Thozhilalar Sangam and the company management over wage hike has been amicably resolved with the company agreeing to increase the wages, Tamil Nadu Labour Minister C V Ganesan informed on Monday. Noting that employee welfare remained a top priority for it, Samsung India said the company 'constructively engaged' with all its workers at the Chennai plant and was delighted to announce a mutual agreement to enhance wages and benefits for the next three years.
Protests by factory workers in Noida, India, demanding wage increases turned violent, resulting in arson, vandalism, and stone-pelting in Phase-2 and Sector 60 areas. Police have been deployed to control the situation and maintain order.
Wipro reported Q4FY26 IT services revenue of $2.6 billion, a modest 0.2 per cent Q-o-Q constant currency growth, with adjusted operating profit margin beating estimates at 17.2 per cent. The company announced a significant share buyback of ~15,000 crore, but faces near-term growth challenges, particularly in the BFSI segment, and has issued a soft Q1FY27 revenue guidance.
Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar has alleged a 'well-planned conspiracy' behind the recent violent protests by workers in Noida, suggesting a possible link to Pakistan in light of recent terror arrests.
Infosys' board has approved annual performance-based stock grants worth Rs 51.75 crore for Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Salil Parekh, aligning with his tenure ending in March 2027.
IT services company Cognizant on Thursday said about 80 per cent of its eligible employees will receive a salary hike, effective November 1, 2025. The company, during its second quarter earnings, had said that it plans to award merit-based salary increases for the vast majority of employees during the second half of 2025.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused central forces of searching her car and criticised the BJP for alleged election misconduct during a rally in Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur district.
'Workers are the people who create all the wealth in this country. How can you call them anti-national?'
Adityanath had earlier referred to a conspiracy angle behind the violence during the protest, which is currently under police investigation.
India's largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Wednesday informed employees that it will roll-out wage hikes for about 80 per cent of workforce, covering mid to junior levels.
Gautam Buddh Nagar police have arrested two more individuals, Himanshu Thakur and Satyam Verma, in connection with the recent violence during worker protests in Noida. The accused are alleged to have orchestrated provocative activities and violence during the demonstrations.
The proposed facility seeks to simplify and speed up PF withdrawals by allowing Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) subscribers to access up to 75 per cent of their balance through ATMs and UPI-based systems, while retaining at least 25 per cent in their accounts.
The impact of the global meltdown has forced India's second largest IT bellwether Infosys Technologies to freeze wage hikes and hiring in new fiscal 2009-10.
South India's manufacturing, construction, and services sectors are grappling with severe labour shortages, prompting employers to offer attractive incentives like free air tickets and salary increments to lure migrant workers back from their home states after recent assembly elections.
HCL Technologies and Infosys should benefit more than TCS and Wipro
Infosys shares experienced a significant drop, hitting a 52-week low, after the company announced its Q4FY26 results and provided a modest revenue growth guidance of 1.5-3.5 per cent in constant currency for FY27, falling below market expectations and raising concerns about AI-led deflation and margin pressures.
Sources say the company's decision has led to a lot of discontent among its employees, many of whom are said to have expressed their unhappiness on the company's intranet portal and 'bulletin board'.
SBI unions walk out of pact saying interests not served
TCS is expected to report a 5 per cent QoQ (USD) growth in revenues, highest in our coverage, while Wipro's IT Services revenue growth could be closer to 1.1 per cent QoQ (USD terms)."
The hiring plan, which includes 13,000 jobs for its BPO operations, will be adhered to despite an uncertain global economic growth environment and the wage-hike freeze.
Bank employees body AIBEA, which is a major constituent of the United Forum of Bank Employees' Association that has called a nationwide strike, on Tuesday said Finance Minister P Chidambaram rejecting wage demands of bank employees is "unfortunate" and the strike was forced on them.
The cost of the war is being counted not in the corridors of power in Washington or Tehran, but in Firozabad's darkened furnace rooms, Howrah's idle casting sheds, and a barbershop in Kochi where the wait is suddenly, inexplicably, an hour long, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of corruption and land grabbing, promising action if the Congress party wins the upcoming elections in Assam. Gandhi also criticised the BJP's governance and economic policies.
In terms of MLA salaries, Odisha is followed by Telangana (about Rs 2.7 lakh), Maharashtra (Rs 2.6 lakh), Manipur (Rs 2.5 lakh), and Uttar Pradesh (Rs 2.4 lakh).
A major section of Life Insurance Corporation employees went on strike on Thursday to press for higher pay package even as the country's largest insurer kept its offices open.
The country's largest IT services company TCS on Monday reported 13.91 per cent decline in December quarter net profit at Rs 10,657 crore. The Tata Group company had posted a net profit of Rs 12,380 crore in the October-December period of FY25 and Rs 12,075 crore in the preceding September quarter.
With discretionary spending still under pressure, the information technology (IT) services industry continued to face an uncertain demand environment in the third quarter of 2025-26 (Q3FY26).
'Companies will need to revisit compensation structures, contracts, staffing models, and human resources system.'
Public sector banks together may take a hit of about Rs 2,200 crore (Rs 22 billion) annually if Indian Banking Association succumbs to trade unions' pressure and agrees to hike salaries of staff by 11 per cent this fiscal.
The good news is that salary hikes are expected, though it is uncertain when they will be implemented.
After two years of strong gains, smallcap stocks fell sharply in 2025, but the correction may be setting up opportunities for long-term investors.
This adjustment is aimed at helping workers cope with the rising cost of living, a labour ministry statement said.
Trade unions said Jaitley's minimum wage announcement is completely inadequate
Employees in India will get 2-4 per cent hike.
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