The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024 was passed in the Cabinet meeting on Monday.It said any industry, factory or other establishments shall appoint 50 per cent of local candidates in management categories and 70 per cent in non-management categories.
If the candidates do not have secondary school certificates with Kannada as a language, they would have to pass a Kannada proficiency test, the bill stipulated.
The Kannada-must provision drew flak from industry leaders as they argued that Bengaluru will lose skilled talent if such a bill is adopted. 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,” Assocham co-chairman RK Mishra said.
Karnataka’s move is similar to a bill introduced by the Haryana government, mandating 75 per cent reservation in private sector jobs to residents of the state. It was, however, struck down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on November 17, 2023.
Karnataka job quota: What is the contentious bill?
A bill enforcing 50 per cent reservation for administrative posts and 75 per cent for non-administrative posts for Kannadigas in private industries is the bone of contention.
Initially, the government was defensive about the move of prioritizing the Kannadigas as Siddaramaiah said the government does not want the Kannadigas to be deprived of job opportunities in the state. “We are a pro-Kannada government. Our priority is to look after the welfare of the Kannadigas,” Siddaramaiah said.