Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faced intense criticism after announcing, then deleting, a tweet advocating 100% job reservation for Kannadigas in Group C and D positions across private companies. The move sparked a contentious debate, prompting Karnataka’s labor minister Santosh S Lad to clarify that reservations in private firms are limited to 70% for non-management roles and 50% for management-level positions.
The proposed ‘Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024’ mandates that industries must allocate 50% of management and 70% of non-management positions to local candidates. It also stipulates that candidates without a secondary school certificate in Kannada must pass a proficiency test.
Critics, including industry leaders like Mohandas Pai and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, condemned the bill as discriminatory and unconstitutional. Pai described it as “fascist,” questioning government interference in private sector recruitment processes. Shaw emphasized the importance of exempting highly skilled roles to safeguard Karnataka’s tech industry leadership.
RK Misra of ASSOCHAM Karnataka warned that appointing government officers in every private company to monitor compliance could deter Indian IT and Global Capability Centres from operating in the state.
Despite the chief minister’s aspiration for local job protection, the proposal has ignited concerns about its impact on industrial competitiveness and adherence to constitutional principles. The bill is set to be tabled in the assembly amidst ongoing debates over its implications for Karnataka’s economic landscape.
