Karnataka government pauses reservation bill for locals in private firms after huge backlash from…

The Karnataka government has put on hold a bill mandating reservations for locals in the private sector after a massive backlash from the industry. The government will have a relook at the bill before it is officially tabled in the state Assembly.

“The bill approved by the cabinet to provide reservation for Kannadigas in private sector organizations, industries and enterprises has been temporarily put on hold.This will be revisited and decided in the coming days,” CM Siddaramiah said in press statement.

Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024 was cleared by the state Cabinet on Tuesday "The bill approved by the Cabinet to provide reservation for Kannadigas in private sector organisations, industries and enterprises has been temporarily put on hold. This will be revisited and decided in the coming days," a statement issued by the Office of the Chief Minister said on Wednesday.
"Any industry, factory or other establishments shall appoint fifty per cent of local candidates in management categories and seventy per cent in non-management categories," the bill read.
The bill came in for criticism from business honchos and tech tycoons.

(with inputs from PTI)