Karnataka Cabinet clears Bill mandating 50% reservation for locals in management jobs and 75% in non-management positions

Sub: Polity

Sec: Constitution

Context:

The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024.
The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the Bill requiring industries, factories, and other establishments to appoint local candidates in 50% of management positions and 75% in non-management positions.

Eligible Candidates:

A local candidate is defined as someone born in Karnataka, domiciled in the state for 15 years, capable of speaking, reading, and writing Kannada legibly, and has passed a required test conducted by a nodal agency.
Candidates must have a secondary school certificate with Kannada as a language or pass a Kannada proficiency test as specified by the nodal agency.
If qualified local candidates are not available, industries and establishments must collaborate with the government to train local candidates within three years.
Industries may apply for relaxation from the provisions if a sufficient number of local candidates are not available, but the percentage of local candidates should not fall below 25% in management positions and 50% in non-management categories.
Non-compliance may attract penalties ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹25,000.

Background and Demand:

The Bill comes amid demands for 100% job reservation for Kannadigas.
Earlier in July, Kannada organizations held rallies demanding the immediate implementation of the Sarojini Mahishi report, which recommended quotas for locals in government and private sector jobs.
The Sarojini Mahishi Committee, led by former Union Minister Sarojini Mahishi, submitted a report in 1984 with 58 recommendations, including 100% reservation for locals in group C and D jobs in Central government departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) operating in Karnataka.

Source: TH