From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Even as the State Government is gearing itself to organise the mega event, 'Invest Karnataka – 2016', from February 3 to 5 in Bengaluru, Karnataka’s Labour Minister P T Parameshwara Naik sought to queer the pitch by asking Large and Medium Industries Minister R V Deshpande to insist on the prospective investors to provide jobs to locals in A and B categories.

The Labour Minister demanded that a strict clause must be included in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) on providing jobs to Kannadigas in the A and B Categories.

Naik, who was speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, said private firms have been denying jobs in higher echelons of administration to locals or Kannadigas. 

However, private firms have been employing locals in lower category jobs, he said.

Noting that private firms have not been following the recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi Committee report on providing jobs to locals, the minister said 30 per cent of jobs in higher echelons should be provided to locals. 

He made it clear that he would meet Deshpande and demand that a clause in the MoUs with private investors must be inserted to ensure jobs to locals in higher level of management in firms.

The minister said the Labour Department has been collecting reports from private firms on providing jobs to locals in the State. 

A few firms have already submitted reports.  A majority of firms had been hiring services of non-Kannadigas in the higher level of administration, he said. 

BJP delegation demands reinstatement of 1,100 MPM employees:

Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders led by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa, on Thursday submitted a petition to Large and Medium Industries Minister R V Deshpande seeking immediate steps for reinstating the 1,100 employees of the State public sector undertaking Mysore Paper Mills, Bhadravathi.

The delegation urged the minister to take action against IAS officer Harsh Gupta, Managing Director, Mysore Paper Mills (MPM), Bhadravati, for laying off 1,100 employees of the factory.

The MPM’s management has also plans to withdraw some of the perks being offered to the employees and enforce a ceiling on employers’ contribution to provident fund and reimbursement of medical expenses, the delegation said in its petition.

Deshpande reportedly assured the delegation that he would look into the issue and take suitable steps.