LUCKNOW/NOIDA, April 14 -- After protests by workers in Noida, the Uttar Pradesh government late Monday night announced an interim increase in minimum wages on the recommendations of the high-level committee constituted under the chief minister's directions.

The revised rates have been divided into three categories: for Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida)-Ghaziabad, for cities with municipal corporations, and for other districts of the state. These increased interim rates will be considered effective from April 1.

For Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad, unskilled workers' wages have been raised from Rs.11,313 to Rs.13,690 (interim), semi-skilled from Rs.12,445 to Rs.15,059 (interim), and skilled from Rs.13,940 to Rs.16,868 (interim).

In other dis...