Amid Outcry, Karnataka Pauses Bill Reserving 50-75% Kannadigas In Private Jobs

The Congress-led government in Karnataka on Wednesday put the bill on hold which mandated reservation for Kannadigas in the private sector.

Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024 was cleared by the state Cabinet on Tuesday.

"The bill approved by the Cabinet to provide reservation for Kannadigas in private sector organisations, industries and enterprises has been temporarily put on hold. This will be revisited and decided in the coming days," a statement issued by the Office of the Chief Minister said on Wednesday.

"Any industry, factory or other establishments shall appoint fifty per cent of local candidates in management categories and seventy per cent in non-management categories," the bill read. The bill came in for criticism from business honchos and tech tycoons.

Initially, the cabinet had approved a bill mandating that 50 percent of management positions and 75 percent of non-management roles be reserved for locals. This legislation, encompassing all sectors including IT, was slated to be introduced in the current assembly session.

According to Moneycontrol, the bill officially titled the State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, defines a "local candidate" in Karnataka not merely as someone who speaks Kannada, but as a resident domiciled in the state for at least 15 years who passes a designated agency's assessment.

While certain exemptions are available upon application, all private enterprises must exclusively hire Kannadigas for group 'C' and 'D' blue-collar positions under the provisions of this bill.