Bengaluru: In a significant move, the Karnataka Cabinet has cleared a Bill on Monday (July 15) that mandates industries, factories and other establishments in the state to reserve a substantial percentage of jobs — at least 50% of management positions and 70% of non-management positions — for local candidates, The Hindu reported.
The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, aimed at promoting employment opportunities for Kannadigas, is expected to be tabled in the ongoing legislature session.
It defines a local candidate as someone born in Karnataka, domiciled in the state for at least 15 years, and capable of speaking, reading and writing Kannada in a legible way.
To be eligible, candidates must have a secondary school certificate with Kannada as a language or pass a Kannada proficiency test conducted by a nodal agency notified by the government. If suitable local candidates are not available, industries and establishments will have to collaborate with the government to train local candidates within three years.
The Bill allows for relaxation of these provisions in exceptional cases, but the percentage of local candidates cannot fall below 25% in management positions and 50% in non-management categories. Failure to comply may attract penalties ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000.
“If sufficient number of local candidates are not available, then an industry or factory or other establishments may apply for relaxation from the provisions of this Act to the government, and after due enquiry, the government may pass appropriate orders and such orders passed by the government shall be final,” according to the Bill, The Hindu report mentioned.
This move comes after long-pending demands from Kannada organisations and the public for job reservation for locals. The Sarojini Mahishi report, submitted in 1984, had recommended 100% reservation for locals in group C and D jobs in Central government departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) operating in Karnataka. While the Bill doesn’t fully meet these demands, it is seen as a significant step towards addressing the concerns of Kannadigas.
Meanwhile, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah deleted his social media post on platform X, which announced the state Cabinet’s approval of a legislation requiring private industries to “hire 100% Kannadigas” for group ‘C’ and ‘D’ positions.
Also read: The Collusion of Karnataka’s Congress Govt in the Economic Project of Neoliberal Hindutva
As per The Indian Express, Siddaramaiah had written, “The Cabinet meeting held yesterday approved a bill to make it mandatory to hire 100 per cent Kannadigas for “C and D” grade posts in all private industries in the state. It is our government’s wish that the Kannadigas should avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada and should be given an opportunity to build a comfortable life in the motherland. We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of Kannadigas.”
While the government is facing criticism from industry leaders post this development, minister for commerce & industries M.B. Patil wrote on X, ” We will have wider consultations. We will ensure that the interests of Kannadigas are protected, alongside those of the industries.”
India is currently experiencing a manufacturing and industrial revolution driven by the global China Plus One policy. In this competitive era, states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are striving to be at their best. It is of utmost importance for all states… pic.twitter.com/Y4Qll1DzxW
— M B Patil (@MBPatil) July 17, 2024
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Labour minister Santosh Lad wrote, “It is a pleasure to share with all of you the matter approved in the cabinet meeting for the bill to provide job reservation for Kannadigars in private sectors. With the implementation of this bill, Kannadigas will get 50% to 75% reservation in private sector jobs in the state.”
ಖಾಸಗಿ ವಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ಮೀಸಲು ಕಲ್ಪಿಸುವ ವಿಧೇಯಕಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಪುಟ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅನುಮೋದನೆ ಪಡೆದ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ನಿಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರಲ್ಲಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಖುಷಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ.
Advertisementಈ ವಿಧೇಯಕದ ಜಾರಿಯಿಂದ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಖಾಸಗಿ ವಲಯದ ಉದ್ಯೋಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಶೇ 50 ರಿಂದ ಶೇ 75ರ ವರೆಗೆ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಸಿಗಲಿದೆ.… pic.twitter.com/HfdylC9BHj
— Santosh Lad Official (@SantoshSLadINC) July 16, 2024
