19.11.08

Of Locals and Sons-of-the-soil....

The Maharashtra government clarified that the resolution issued by it asking industrial units to reserve 80% jobs for the locals, is just a directive. “It is not mandatory,” said industries minister Ashok Chavan.“The government cannot fine anyone for not complying with the directive.”
The state on Monday re-issued the government resolution, originally issued in 1968 and then again in 1970, 1973, 2005, 2007, reminding the industries with the compliance. Chavan asserted that in this world of globalisation no state could set such a condition on one hand, and expect more and more investments on the other. However, he said that industrial units had submitted an undertaking to the government, promising 80% jobs to locals.“The industrial units seeking government incentives, get the eligibility certificates only after they promise adequate jobs to locals. The government officials would monitor the situation at district levels. If any industrial unit has problems employing 80%, we might even exempt them, provided there is a valid reason,” said Chavan.
The minister also clarified that industries across the state have appointed more than 90% locals in supervisory and non-supervisory positions. In 1.59 lakh small and medium industrial units, nearly 10.86 lakh locals have been offered the jobs, making it 95.97%. In 3,435 large-scale industrial units, the percentage of locals in supervisory and non-supervisory jobs is 78 and 88% respectively. Development commissioner (industries) Malini Shankar said, “There is no reason why industrial units will say no to local employees. We provide technical and vocational guidance to potential employees to make them competent. However, there are areas in which the locals don’t like working,” she said.

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