In a first in India, Andhra Pradesh on Monday passed a law to provide 75 per cent reservation to local youths in all private companies.
The Andhra assembly passed the Andhra Pradesh Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories Act, 2019, according to which private organizations across all categories in industrial units, factories, joint ventures as well as projects that are in public-private partnership mode, are required to reserve 75% of the jobs for the local candidates.
With this move, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has fulfilled one of his promises made ahead of the state elections.
According to the new law, in case the local candidates lack the skills for the job, the companies, in collaboration with the government, are required to provide the necessary training.
The demand for reservation in employment opportunities in the private sector is not specific to Andhra Pradesh. Aiming to address unemployment woes of the local population, several states in the past have voiced similar views.
After forming government in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Kamal Nath had said that they could bring a law to ensure 70 per cent jobs to local youths in the private sector. Such demands have existed in Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra also.