House passes Bill on 75% quota for locals in private sector in Haryana

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, November 5

Amid protests by certain legislators, the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday passed a Bill for reservation of 75 per cent jobs in the private sector for Haryana residents.

The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Bill 2020 was passed in the teeth of sharp criticism from certain members, including Ram Kumar Gautam, JJP legislator from Narnaund.

Terming the Bill against national integration, Gautam asserted that it would set a bad precedent as other states would follow in the footsteps of the state and bar Haryanavis from employment in their respective states.

Congress MLA BB Batra quoted the Constitution to assert that it violated the right to equality of citizens in matters of employment. He wondered whether the Bill would stand judicial scrutiny.

Defending the Bill, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said it would go a long way in providing employment to the local youth, adding that states such as Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra had also enacted similar legislation.

Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala noted that the influx of a large number of migrant labour to compete for low-paid jobs had an adverse impact on local infrastructure and housing, resulting in mushrooming of slums.

The Bill seeks to provide 75 per cent quota for locals in jobs with a monthly salary up to Rs 50,000 in private companies, trusts, societies, limited liability firms, partnership firms and other persons employing more than 10 persons.

The Bill, initially enacted for 10 years, caps the quota of any district in employment at 10 per cent. The provision was opposed by Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda.