Karnataka job reservation row: The Karnataka cabinet’s approval of a job reservation bill aimed at providing quotas for Kannadigas in private sector organizations, industries, and enterprises has been ‘temporarily put on hold’.
The Karnataka CMO has informed that the bill will be reviewed and decided in the coming days.
Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah took to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) to inform about the temporary hold on the Karnataka Job Reservation bill.
“The bill intended to implement reservation for Kannadigas in private sector institutions, industries and enterprises is still in the preparation stage. A final decision will be taken after comprehensive discussion in the next cabinet meeting.” Siddaramaiah’s tweet read.
ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಖಾಸಗಿ ವಲಯದ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು, ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳು ಹಾಗೂ ಉದ್ದಿಮೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀಸಲಾತಿ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸುವ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ತರಲು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿದ್ದ ವಿಧೇಯಕವು ಇನ್ನೂ ಸಿದ್ಧತೆಯ ಹಂತದಲ್ಲಿದೆ.
ಮುಂದಿನ ಸಚಿವ ಸಂಪುಟ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಗ್ರವಾಗಿ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಿ ಅಂತಿಮ ನಿರ್ಣಯ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗುವುದು.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 17, 2024
Karnataka Job Reservation Bill
The state Cabinet on Monday cleared the Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, which makes it compulsory for private firms to reserve jobs for Kannadigas.
“Any industry, factory or other establishments shall appoint fifty per cent of local candidates in management categories and seventy percent in non-management categories,” the bill read.
If the candidates do not possess secondary school certificates with Kannada as a language, should pass a Kannada proficiency test as specified by the ‘Nodal Agency,’ it added.
The nodal agency will have powers to call for any records information or documents in the possession of an employer or occupier or manager of an establishment for the purpose of verifying the report.
The government may appoint an officer not below the rank of Assistant Labour Commissioner as the authorised officer for the purposes of compliance of the provisions of the Act.
Karnataka government faces industrial backlash
The Congress government in Karnataka faced criticism after advocating for ‘100% reservation’ for Kannadigas in the state’s private sector, prompting a defensive stance amidst backlash from business leaders and technology executives.
Ministers who endorsed the Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments Bill, 2024 during Monday’s Cabinet meeting assured industries of ongoing discussions to address concerns and apprehensions.
