(MENAFN- Live Mint) Karnataka 100% quota row: The Karnataka cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill mandating 100 per cent reservation for Kannadigas in private sector for Group C and D posts. The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting held on Monday. Here all you need to know about the bill and the controversies around it
What does the bill say?
The bill seeks to reserve 50 per cent of management jobs and 75 per cent of non-management jobs for locals in the private sector . The Karnataka government is also contemplating 100 per cent reservation for locals in "C&D" grade government jobs. The bill is called the State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024.
The Bill drafted by the Labour Department claimed that jobs of industries operating in the state are going to the states of North India. The Bill states that industries that get infrastructure including land and water from the state should give reservations for jobs to the locals, and this has been approved in the cabinet meeting.
What did Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah say about the bill?
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday posted on X that the state government's priority was to look after the welfare of Kannadigas.
"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."
Noting that his government is a pro-Kannada government, he added,“It is our government's wish that the Kannadigas should avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada and should be allowed to build a comfortable life in the motherland. We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of Kannadigas”
He later deleted the controversial tweet .
How did the industry react to the move?
On Wednesday several industry leaders in the state objected to the move saying that it is "discriminatory" and raised apprehensions that the tech industry may suffer.
Mohandas Pai, the Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services said that the Bill is "fascist" and also unconstitutional.
"This bill should be junked. It is discriminatory, regressive and against the constitution @Jairam_Ramesh is govt to certify who we are? This is a fascist bill as in Animal Farm, unbelievable that @INCIndia can come up with a bill like this- a govt officer will sit on recruitment committees of the private sector? People have to take a language test?" Pai said in a post on 'X'.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw , the Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited said that the state should not let this Bill affect its leading position in the domain of technology and there should be exemptions for highly skilled recruitment.
"As a tech hub, we need skilled talent and whilst the aim is to provide jobs for locals we must not affect our leading position in technology by this move. There must be caveats that exempt highly skilled recruitment from this policy," Shaw posted on 'X'.
RK Misra, the Co-Chairman of ASSOCHAM Karnataka and the Co-Founder of YULU called the Bill shortsighted and said that if a government officer is appointed in every private company to monitor its implementation, it will scare away Indian IT and Global Capability Centres.
"Another genius move from Govt of Karnataka. Mandate LOCAL RESERVATION & APPOINT GOVT OFFICER IN EVERY COMPANY to monitor. This will scare Indian IT & GCCs. Short-sighted," Misra posted on 'X'.
Before the rules are decided, industry will be consulted: Karnataka ministers
Meanwhile, defending Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge says, "The bill has been brought in by the labour department. They are yet to consult with the industry, the Minister of Industry and the Department of Information Technology. I am sure that before coming up with the rules of the bill, they will have due consultations with the respective ministries and more importantly, a wider consultation with the industry. So there is no need to panic. We are going to safeguard the jobs for the state as well as encourage investments in the industries with their consultation..."
State Commerce and Industries Minister MB Patil also confirmed that they will have wide consultations, resolve the confusion and ensure that interests of Kannadigas are protected along with those of industries.
"I have seen that many people have apprehension regarding this...We will resolve this confusion...We will sit with the CM and resolve this so that it does not have any adverse effect...," Patil said speaking to ANI on Wednesday.
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