In what could revive the debate on forcing the private sector into affirmative action, and on linguistic chauvinism in Karnataka, the Karnataka labour department has reportedly released draft amendments that provide 100% horizontal reservation to Kannadigas in all private industries, except the IT-BT sector, that get concessions under the state industrial policy.
Sandeep Moudgal of the Times of India reports that the amendments state that if industries don’t comply, their concessions will be withdrawn.
TOI reports that, “As per the proposed amendment to Clause 2 of the standing orders, the department said: “Every industrial establishment which has obtained concession of land, water, electricity or tax rebate or deferment of tax as per the state industrial policy shall provide horizontal reservation of 100% in employment to local people (Kannadigas) in case of workmen classified in sub-clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g)...””
Labour Minister Santhosh Lad however clarified that they were only insisting that private industries employ Kannadigas as the first option, not that companies have to hire a Kannadiga even if there are none for the job.
However, the IT-BT vertical has been exempted because “it's not covered under the Karnataka Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules, 1961, for a period of five years from 2014.”
Trying to force the IT-BT sector into the reservations could also invite a backlash from tech giants, which contribute a lot to the state’s GDP.
It is also reported that the labour department has got the nod from CM Siddaramaiah for the amendments.