The Karnataka government has put a measure requiring private companies operating in the state to reserve jobs for Kannadigas on hold and will give it more consideration. The measure, which was approved on Monday, mandates that companies in the IT hub of India give preference to hiring local candidates for 50% of management-level positions and 70% of non-management roles.
“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,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has posted on X.
The Chief Minister initially announced the quota on Tuesday night.
The Chief Minister said his “pro-Kannada government” would ensure all “Kannadigas (get) an opportunity to lead a comfortable life in the motherland… and avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada”. However, his X post said the bill mandated 100 per cent reservation at certain levels.
After Siddaramaiah’s post, the opposition, backed by the BJP, and corporate heavyweights like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, targeted the Congress administration in a fit of wrath and indignation.
Nonetheless, there was some unexpected backing from Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Mr. Athawale, supported all policies that would help the underprivileged, whether they were from the OBC, SC, or ST populations.
“My party demands Government of India and states give reservations to OBCs in the private sector. We are not opposing candidates from the General Category,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Chief Minister’s post was deleted this afternoon after clarification from Labour Minister Santosh Lad. “At management level, it has been decided to provide reservation of 50 per cent. At the non-management level, it has been decided to provide work to 70 per cent…”
He added that businesses might consider hiring individuals from outside the state if they were unable to find qualified applicants from this limited pool.
“If such skills are not available (in Kannadigas) then the jobs can be outsourced. The government is trying to bring in a law to give preference to locals… if skilled labour is available here…” he said.
Still, he maintained that the state is not short in talent.
When the quota was first introduced, opinions were divided.
While some businesspeople labelled it as “discriminatory,” others—like Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw—acknowledged the necessity of providing jobs for locals while adding certain qualifiers.
Software industry body Nasscom, which represents India’s $200 billion technology industry, sought its withdrawal saying the bill “threaten to drive away companies”. “… the restrictions could force companies to relocate as local skilled talent becomes scarce,” the top industry body said Wednesday.
Responding to these concerns, Mr Lad told news agency he would speak to them. “We respect their apprehensions and their views. We will talk to them…” he had said.
The proposed bill, which was drafted by the Labour Department, stated that the majority of the persons receiving the employment in question were relocating to Karnataka from northern states. It suggested that businesses in Karnataka that profit from public infrastructure set aside positions for residents.
The proposed policy, it is understood, reflected recommendations made by the Sarojini Mahishi Committee, which said large, medium and small-scale industrial units with over 50 workers had to reserve 65 and 80 per cent of Group A and Group B jobs for Kannadigas.
All Group C and Group D jobs would be kept for Kannadigas, the report had said.
