The Haryana government on Thursday passed a bill in the state assembly that grants 75 per cent reservation to locals in private sector jobs.
The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Bill will instruct private companies, partnership firms, societies, trusts and other private organizations to reserve three-fourth of blue-collar jobs having a salary of less than Rs 50,000 per month.
Once it becomes a law, the company has to hire local candidates on priority. However, companies cannot hire more than 10 per cent of local candidates from a district.
Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala tabled the bill in the assembly and called it a historic day for the people. “The state is swamped by outsiders, this has led to environment and health issues, affecting both the quality of life and livelihood. Giving preference to local candidates in low-paying jobs is socially, economically, and environmentally desirable,” he said.
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Exemption clause
The companies may claim exemption from the rules if local candidates with the desired skills, qualifications, or proficiency are not available. The bill allows appointing a designated officer, who will act as a representative of the government. The penalty for any violation will invite a hefty fine up to Rs 2 lakh.
According to the bill, this officer may overrule the exemption claim by directing the companies to “train local candidates to achieve the desired skill, qualification or proficiency”.
The respective employers can hire only up to 10 percent of the approved local quota from one district. Companies also need to register details of all employees earning less than Rs 50,000 per month. If the employer doesn’t pay heed to this provision, they might have to levy a one lakh rupees fine.
Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janata Party had promised a 75 per cent job reservation for local youth across the state in 2019. The promise was also later included in the common minimum program of the BJP-JJP coalition government. JJP finished third – behind the BJP and Congress – but stitched together an alliance with the former to form the government.
The ‘Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Bill’ needs the assent of President Ram Nath Kovind before it becomes a law.
