Karnataka government revisits local job reservation bill

The Karnataka government is revisiting a proposed law that would reserve a portion of private-sector jobs for local candidates. The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill aims to increase employment opportunities for Kannadigas by reserving 50 per cent of management roles and 70 to 75 per cent of non-management roles for locals.

The Bill has been on hold for nearly three years due to concerns from industry bodies, particularly in the technology sector, regarding recruitment of specialized talent and potential impacts on investment. Additionally, the state is studying legal challenges faced by Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Punjab over similar reservation policies to avoid legal uncertainty.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has urged private companies to prioritize local talent, promising government facilitation and protection against moral policing or interference. Meanwhile, the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has launched a campaign to assess employment opportunities for locals in private companies, with plans to submit a report to the government following data collection from IT and other major firms.