Karnataka cabinet clears bill mandating 50% reservation for locals in management jobs and 75% in non-management positions in industries, factories and other establishments

The Bill mandates 50% of management jobs and 75% of non-management positions for residents of Karnataka.

The Karnataka Cabinet has cleared a bill mandating that industries, factories and other establishments appoint local candidates in 50% of management positions and 75% in non-management positions.

The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, was cleared in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 15. It is expected to be tabled in the ongoing legislature session.

The Act defines a local candidate as a person “who is born in the state of Karnataka and who is domiciled in the state for a period of 15 years and who is capable of speaking, reading and writing Kannada in a legible way and has passed a required test conducted by the nodal agency.”

According to the Act, candidates must have a secondary school certificate with Kannada as a language. If not, they should pass a Kannada proficiency test, as specified by the nodal agency notified by the government. 

If qualified or suitable local candidates are not available, the industries and establishments, in collaboration with the government, should take steps to train local candidates within three years. 

“If sufficient number of local candidates are not available, then an industry or factory or other establishments may apply for relaxation from the provisions of this Act to the government, and after due enquiry, the government may pass appropriate orders and such orders passed by the government shall be final,” according to the bill. 

Nevertheless, the percentage of local candidates should not go below 25% in management positions and 50% in non-management categories.