Karnataka job reservation: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw calls for exemption of 'highly-skilled' labour

The founder-chairperson of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, sought to highlight how the draft bill for reservation of jobs for Kannadigas may adversely impact Bengaluru's position as a tech hub.

As the Karnataka cabinet approved a draft bill mandating 50 percent reservation for locals in management jobs, 70 percent in non-management categories, Bengaluru-based billionaire entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw called for an exemption of highly-skilled labour from the policy.

The founder and chairperson of Biocon said that the Karnataka government's move could affect Bengaluru's position as the leading tech city in the country. "As a tech hub, we need skilled talent," she wrote on X. "And whilst the aim is to provide jobs for locals we must not affect our leading position in technology by this move. There must be caveats that exempt highly skilled recruitment from this policy."

Mazumdar-Shaw also tagged the accounts of chief minister Siddaramiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, and IT Minister Priyank Kharge.

As a tech hub we need skilled talent and whilst the aim is to provide jobs for locals we must not affect our leading position in technology by this move. There must be caveats that exempt highly skilled recruitment from this policy. @siddaramaiah @DKShivakumar @PriyankKharge https://t.co/itYWdHcMWw

— Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) July 17, 2024

Siddaramiah on Wednesday said that the state government's priority was to look after the welfare of Kannadigas. "The Cabinet meeting held yesterday approved a bill to make it mandatory to hire 100 percent Kannadigas for "C and D" grade posts in all private industries in the state,” he wrote on X.

The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments draft bill, 2024 states that any employer, occupier, or manager of an establishment violating provisions will face a penalty ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000.

The bill, Siddaramiah said, reflected the government's commitment to ensuring that Kannadigas have ample opportunities for employment within their state, aiming to prevent job deprivation in what he referred to as “Kannada land”.