Karnataka Withholds Bill To Give Reservation For Locals In Private Jobs

The Karnataka Government on late Wednesday indicated that it was temporarily putting on hold the Bill to provide 50% reservation in management and 70% in non-management posts for Kannadigas in private industries and other organisations of the state.

After criticism against the bill from various quarters, Chief Minister Siddarmaiah clarified that the bill - which was earlier said to have been approved- was still in the preparation stage and would be finalised only after comprehensive discussions.

“The draft bill intended to provide reservations for Kannadigas in private sector companies, industries, and enterprises is still in the preparation stage. A comprehensive discussion will be held in the next cabinet meeting to make a final decision,” he posted on X.

Karnataka Commerce Minister MB Patil said that the Bill is withheld for further consultations.

"Honble CM has taken due cognizance. Bill is withheld until further consultations and due diligence.Industry leaders needn't panic as assured. The government is committed to further creation of jobs, and furthermore for Kannadigas, however in a more amicable manner," Patil posted on X.

The State Cabinet had on Monday approved the Karnataka State Employment Of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishment Bill, 2024.

The bill defines a "Local Candidates" to be a candidate who is born in the State of Karnataka and who has been domiciled in the State for a period of fifteen years and who is capable of speaking, reading and writing Kannada in a legible way and has passed a requisite test conducted by the Nodal Agency.

Further, it states that where qualified or suitable local candidates are not available, the industry or factory or other establishments within three years with active collaboration of the Government or its agencies shall take steps to train and engage local candidates. 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.

However, the relaxation provided shall not be less than twenty five percent for management category and fifty percent for non-management categories.

The Bill also provides that every Industry or Factory or other Establishment shall inform the Nodal Agency about the compliance of the provisions of this Act in such form, within such period as may be prescribed.

For implementing the Act, the Government is to appoint an officer not below the rank Assistant Labour Commissioner as the authorised officer for the purposes of compliance of the provisions of this Act.

In regards to non-compliance to the provisions any Employer or Occupier or Manager of an Establishment, who contravenes the provisions of this Act shall be liable for a penalty which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees, but which may extend upto twenty five thousand rupees and if the contravention continues after penalty has been imposed, then, with further penalty which may extend to one hundred rupees for each day till the time contravention so continues.

Further it prescribed that no prosecution shall be instituted under this Act or the rules made there under save on a complaint in writing by an authorised officer with prior permission of the Government.