PhonePe CEO Sameer Nigam recently voiced his dissatisfaction with Karnataka proposed private job quota bill for locals. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Nigam expressed concerns about the bill, which aims to reserve a significant percentage of jobs in private companies for local residents.
Details of the Bill
The Karnataka government recently approved a bill that mandates 50% of all management jobs and 70% of all non-management jobs in private companies be reserved for locals. However, the government has since put the bill on hold, stating that it is still under preparation.
Industry Backlash
The bill faced severe backlash from industry leaders, including Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon and Mohandas Pai. They argued that the bill would negatively impact the IT sector and the broader business environment in Karnataka.
Sameer Nigam’s Reaction
In his post, Nigam questioned the fairness of the bill. He shared his personal background, explaining that his family had moved frequently due to his father’s career in the Indian Navy, which meant they did not have a long-term residence in any one state. He expressed concern that such policies would unfairly disadvantage individuals like his children, who have not lived in Karnataka long-term but have contributed significantly to the state’s economy.
“I am 46 years old. Never lived in a state for 15+ yrs. My father worked in the Indian Navy. Got posted all over the country. His kids don’t deserve jobs in Karnataka? I build companies. Have created 25000+ jobs across India! My kids don’t deserve jobs in their home city?” Nigam wrote in his post.
Social Media Reaction
Nigam’s post garnered various reactions on social media. Many users commented on the potential impact of the bill on Bangalore’s tech industry.
One user wrote, “A fairly strong comment from a reticent builder. Looks like tech may move out of Bangalore,” to which Nigam replied, “I don’t think so. I truly hope not. Bangalore is a lovely city! The fact is that Bangalore has contributed massively to the state exchequer, which in turn funds a lot of Karnataka’s overall state development and GDP.”
Another user commented:
“Who says you don’t deserve Jobs in Karnataka? All you have to do is LEARN THE LANGUAGE! Why so much hue and cry?”
Social Media User
The debate over Karnataka’s private job quota bill highlights the tension between local job reservations and the needs of a diverse, mobile workforce. Industry leaders like Sameer Nigam argue that such policies could harm the state’s economic growth and its appeal as a hub for technology and innovation.
As the government reviews the bill, the outcome will likely have significant implications for the state’s business environment and workforce dynamics.
