Amid protests by factory workers in Uttar Pradesh's Noida demanding wages of ₹20,000 per month, PLFS 2025 data reveal that India's average salaried manufacturing worker earns just ₹18,735 per month. It is below the ₹22,699 all-industry average. Notably, Only 16.5% of manufacturing workers have a written contract, and just 20.4% receive any social security.