Protests over Wage Cuts, India - 2026

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, violent clashes broke out in the IMT Manesar industrial area in Gurugram, India, between workers who had been protesting since Monday against low wage payments and local police units. At least 22 people were injured – including eight police officers – and four factories were damaged. According to the police, stone-pelting forced them to intervene, whereas workers stated that they were attacked without warning.

The unrest, which had been building since Monday across several factories, escalated when workers at two adjacent plants in Sector 4 attempted to block the main road, in defiance of prohibitory orders issued the previous day. Police forces were attacked and injured, and police vehicles were damaged. Workers fleeing a baton charge by police also forced their way into at least four factories, damaging cars, glass walls, and machinery, and ransacking management offices. 

One of these factories belonged to Modelama Exports Private Limited, a major company that - according to Open Supply Hub - operates two garment manufacturing facilities in the industrial area where the unrest erupted on April 9: 

Modelama Exports Pvt Ltd – 156 (OS ID: IN2025120MKYE3S), a supplier to the brand company Ralph Lauren, and 

Modelama Exports Pvt Ltd – Plot No. 24 (OHS ID: IN20212576GEWKX), a supplier to the brands NEXT PLC, Macy’s, and Marks & Spencer. 

Newspaper reports do not clearly indicate which of the two facilities was damaged. However, they indicated that the protesters were, among others, employed at the factories that were damaged.

The protests were triggered by significant minimum wage increases of 35 percent in the industrial zone, which companies reportedly implemented inadequately. While some factories appear to be paying the higher minimum wages, they allegedly offset them by cutting overtime pay. 

As local authorities begin the legal investigation into the riots, it is the responsibility of the affected factories’ clients to ensure that statutory wage regulations are complied with throughout their supply chains.

On its website, Modelama Exports states that it holds certifications under several sustainability standards, including the Better Cotton Initiative, GOTS, OEKO‑TEX® STANDARD 100, SEDEX, and BSCI.

Basic Information

Case ID: 2026.007

Identification Number from Open Supply Hub (OS-ID): IN2025204HNRHJ7

Open Supply Hub Link

Affected Country: India

Date of occurrence: 2026-04-09

Social Sector Risks concerned:

• Wages (Conventions Nr. 26 & 102 & 131 & 177 & 181; FAO)

Supplier Details

Modelama Exports (P) Ltd.
Corporate Office 105-106, Udyog Vihar Phase-1
Gurugram -122016 (Haryana)
India Phone
+91-124-2397838-42 9818899221, 9818899260

Supplier Website: https://www.modelama.com/

Production Site

Modelama Exports Pvt Ltd - Plot No 24
Factory No 2, Lot XN8, Sector 4, IMT Manesar
GURUGRAM, Haryana,
122051
India

Known certifications:

Better Cotton Initiative, GOTS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, SEDEX, BSCI

Source of information about certifications:
https://www.modelama.com/sustainability

Workers movement

Business Relations

Known Buyer/Brands:

• Macey's
• Marks and Spencer P.L.C.
• Next Germany GmbH
• Ralph Lauren Corporation

Source of information buyers: https://opensupplyhub.org/facilities/IN2025120MKYE3S
2. Source of information buyers: https://opensupplyhub.org/facilities/IN20212576GEWKX

Follow up

Sources

Name of reporting organisation: Hindustan Times

Source of information about the case:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/wage-protest-spirals-into-violence-at-imt-manesar-at-least-22-injured-101775759577534.html

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurugram-news/55-arrested-by-police-for-imt-manesar-violence-101775844143073-amp.html

Contributor: SÜDWIND