50-75% reservation for Kannadigas in private jobs, including IT sector: Karnataka Cabinet approves bill – India News

In a bid to make life easier for the Kannadigas from the southern part of the state, the Karnataka Cabinet has approved a bill for employment of local candidates in factories and other industrial units, which will mandate reservation of 50% of managerial positions and 75% of non-managerial positions for locals.

This law applies to the entire private sector, including the IT sector.

The bill also highlights a penalty for companies that fail to prioritise Kannadigas for employment in the state. A fine ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 will be imposed on companies found to be non-compliant with the Act, and Rs 100 will be collected every day until the number of local employers is in compliance with the Act.

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As per a copy of the bill, candidates who will be given reservation in management and non-management categories will have to either possess a secondary school leaving certificate in Kannada medium or pass a Kannada language proficiency test prescribed by the nodal agency.

If there are no qualified or suitable local candidates available, the industry or factories or other facilities should take steps to train and employ local candidates within three years.

The bill also includes a clause that would provide an exception for schools “if there are not enough local candidates available.” In such a case, schools could apply to the government for a relaxation of the provisions of the act, and “after conducting an appropriate investigation, the government may issue appropriate orders,” the bill reads.

Read also: Kannadigas to be given priority in private sector in C and D

However, all private companies must employ only Kannadigas for manual jobs of group ‘C’ and ‘D’.

In a post on X, Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad said, “I am pleased to inform everyone that the bill for providing reservation of jobs for Kannadigas in the private sector has been approved in the cabinet meeting. With the implementation of this bill, Kannadigas will get 50% to 75% reservation of jobs in the private sector in the state.”

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote on Twitter: said on Tuesday that the government also approved a law that makes it mandatory for all private enterprises to employ only Kannadigas in group ‘C’ and ‘D’ jobs.