Job reservation for natives in private sector; Karnataka's job reservation bill for Kannadigas faces backlash

BENGALURU: Siddaramaiah's Congress government has frozen the regressive bill to reserve most jobs in the private sector, including IT, to locals in Karnataka after strong opposition. Today, the cabinet had approved the bill to implement the 'Sons of soil concept'. After that, there were nationwide protests.

The move was to introduce the Karnataka State Employment of Local Industries Factories Establishment Act Bill, 2024, in the Assembly soon. The bill had caused concern among thousands of Malayalis who are seeking employment in IT companies and other sectors. The bill was also criticized as unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the president of the IT companies association, NASSCOM, the national agency for IT firms, warned that the law would backfire in Bengaluru, an IT hub that only requires technically skilled people. It will be difficult to get a job not only in IT companies but also in malls, hospitals, ayurvedic centres, BPO firms and factories.

Kannadiga reservation as follows

• Management post 50%
• Other mediocre posts 75%
• Group C, D (Blue Collar) posts 100%
• 25,000 fine for companies that do not implement reservation
• Fine of Rs 100 per day until the number of locals is reached

Reservation eligibility

• Must have lived in Karnataka for 15 years
• Must pass 10th class with Kannada as a subject or pass Kannada test of nodal agency
• Companies should train local people if there are no suitable candidates
• Three years for train

In Bengaluru

• 18 lakh IT employees
• 2.18 lakh Malayalis
• 8785 large IT companies
• 8 lakh Malayalis in other areas

"We will fight against the restriction of employment, including for the Malayalis. The law is impractical. We will meet MPs and protest. Kerala government should intervene

-Rajikumar, Bengaluru Kerala Samajam General Secretary

"The law goes against federal principles. Citizens should have the opportunity to work in any state without discrimination"

-P Sreeramakrishnan, Norka Roots Resident Vice Chairman

Maharashtra, Haryana and Andhra

Law was introduced by Andhra Pradesh in 2019 for 75% reservation for Andra natives in the private sector and by Haryana in 2023 for 75% reservation for Haryana natives but was struck down by the respective High Courts deming it as unconstitutional. In Maharashtra, the Law Department had scrapped a law drafted in 2022 by the Shiv Sena-NCP government to provide 80% reservation for Marathis in lower government posts.