Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the state cabinet’s approval of a bill to provide 100% reservation for Kannadigas in C and D grade posts in private industries. This move aims to increase job opportunities for local residents, but has faced significant opposition from industry leaders.
The bill, titled the “Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024,” will be presented in the assembly on Thursday, July 18. The Chief Minister emphasized the Congress-led government’s commitment to the welfare of Kannadigas. “Our priority is to look after the welfare of Kannadigas,” he said in a post on X.
Industry leaders, however, have raised concerns about the potential negative impact on Karnataka’s status as a leading technology hub. Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw stressed the need for skilled talent, warning that the bill should not hinder the state’s technological progress. “There must be caveats that exempt highly skilled recruitment from this policy,” she stated.
Former Infosys executive Mohandas Pai condemned the bill, calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional. “This bill should be junked. It is discriminatory, regressive and against the constitution,” Pai remarked on X.
The bill mandates that industries, factories, and other establishments must hire 50% local candidates in management positions and 70% in non-management positions. Candidates lacking a secondary school certificate with Kannada as a language must pass a Kannada proficiency test. Establishments must collaborate with the government to train local candidates if they are not readily available.
Provisions for relaxation of the quota are included, allowing establishments to apply for exemptions if sufficient local candidates are unavailable. The government, however, will ensure that the relaxation does not fall below 25% for management positions and 50% for non-management positions.
A nodal agency will be established to oversee compliance, with the power to inspect records and reports from employers. Penalties for non-compliance range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000, with additional fines for ongoing violations.
