Karnataka Clears Bill Mandating 100% Quota For Locals In Private Sector (image-X/siddaramaiah)
The Karnataka Cabinet has cleared a bill mandating 100 percent reservation for Kannadigas in private firms for Group C and Group D posts. Industries, factories, and other establishments have been mandated to appoint 50 percent of local candidates in management categories and 75 percent in non-management categories.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the decision was taken by the cabinet on Monday.
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“The Cabinet meeting held yesterday approved a bill to make it mandatory to hire 100 percent Kannadigas for “C and D” grade posts in all private industries in the state,” said Siddaramaiah in an X post.
The state chief minister stated that it was the government’s wish that Kannadigas should be given opportunities to lead a comfortable life in their native state. “We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of Kannadigas,” he added.
ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ “ಸಿ ಮತ್ತು ಡಿ” ದರ್ಜೆಯ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳಿಗೆ ನೂರಕ್ಕೆ ನೂರರಷ್ಟು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ನೇಮಕಾತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಡ್ಡಾಯಗೊಳಿಸುವ ವಿಧೇಯಕಕ್ಕೆ ನಿನ್ನೆ ನಡೆದ ಸಚಿವ ಸಂಪುಟ ಸಭೆಯು ಒಪ್ಪಿಗೆ ನೀಡಿದೆ.
ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಕನ್ನಡದ ನೆಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ವಂಚಿತರಾಗುವುದನ್ನು ತಪ್ಪಿಸಿ, ತಾಯ್ನಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನೆಮ್ಮದಿಯ ಬದುಕು ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು… pic.twitter.com/UwvsJtrT2q
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 16, 2024
According to the bill, 50 percent of the jobs in the management category, including managerial, operational, supervisory, administrative, and technical, should be reserved for Kannadigas. In the non-management categories, including unskilled, clerical, and semi-skilled employees in IT and ITeS firms and casual and contract workers, 75 percent should be reserved for local candidates.
Who Is A ‘Local Candidate’
The state government defines a ‘local candidate’ as a Karnataka-born individual residing in the state for 15 years, capable of speaking, reading, and writing Kannada, and having passed a requisite test conducted by a nodal agency. The Kannada proficiency test will be applicable only to those who did not study the language in high school.
What Does The Bill Say?
The mandate is applicable to employers under the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act or those who employ ten or more people on salary, wages, or other remuneration for providing a service or manufacturing.
In case an industry or factory is unable to find qualified candidates, they must ‘collaborate’ with the state government or its agencies within the span of three years to train local candidates. The bill states that in such cases, “an industry, factory, or other establishment may apply for relaxation from the provisions of this Act to the government, and after due inquiry, the government may pass appropriate orders, and such orders passed by the government shall be final.”
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Even if there is relaxation, a 25 percent reservation in management and 50 percent in non-management jobs is a must, as per the bill.
A penalty ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 for violations will be applicable to employers. If, even after the penalty, the violation persists, then a fine of up to Rs 100 will be levied every day till the violation is addressed.
Notably, this is the second attempt by the Siddaramaiah-led government to pass the bill. In 2016, the Congress government planned to reserve 100 percent of Group C and D jobs in the private sector for local candidates. However, the bill was shot down by the law department, citing that it violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.
