In a major move to fullfil the longstanding demands of the local Kannadigas, the ruling Congress Government is proposing an amendment to the existing law to provide 100 per cent reservations to the local population in all blue-collar jobs in all private sector industries barring IT and Biotechnology sector industries that secure concessions under industrial policy.
2018 being the election year for the Assembly, this amendment aimed at garnering support is crucial for the Congress to keep its base intact in Karnataka.
The draft amendments to the Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules of 1961, released by the labour department of the state, pledge this new move, from which information and bio technology companies have been exempted. All other industries that refuse to comply with these rules will lose the concessions enjoyed by them from the Government.
The amendment will be implemented once the law department gives it approval a second time, though such a short-term appeasement policy may lead to lasting grievances.
Karnataka labour Minister Santosh lad said private industries must give preference to Kannadigas as first option and employ them. He said "The amendment will give us the means to ensure that all private sector industries open their doors to us, to identify how many Kannadigas work in each company and rectify any discrepancies.”
The labour department has been careful not to mess with the powerful IT and BT lobbies, which have massively improved the gross domestic product of the State. These industries are anyway not covered under the Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules of 1961 for a period of five years from 2014.
The draft amendments to the Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing orders) Rules, 1961, providing for 100 per cent “horisontal reservation” for Kannadigas has been thrown open to the public for objections or suggestions.
“Every industrial establishment which has obtained concession of land, water, electricity or tax rebate or deferment of tax as per state industrial policy shall provide horizontal reservation of 100 per cent in employment to local people (Kannadigas) in case of workmen classified in sub- clause (a),(b),(c),(d),(e),(f) and (g) and above," the notification on the draft rules read.
“Every industrial establishment shall provide not less than five per cent of employment to persons with disabilities in case of workmen classified in sub clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) and above in order to get incentives from Government,” it added.
The department also provided 5 per cent reservation for a disabled person who is also a Kannadiga. The IT-BT (information technology-biotechnology) vertical has been exempted as they are not covered under the Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules of 1961 for a period of five years from 2014.
According to the labour department: "local people (Kannadiga) means any person born in the state of Karnataka or who has lived in Karnataka for not less than 15 years and knows to read, write, speak and understand Kannada."