Pejawar Shree visits protesting MSEZ job seekers

March 17, 2011

Mangalore, March 17: Pejawar Mutt pontiff Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji on Thursday visited the encampment of job seekers in the project displaced families of the Mangalore Special Economic Zone, whose indefinite hunger strike in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner went on for the 17th consecutive day today.

During his 10 minute stay with the demonstrating youth, on his way to Kasaragod from Udupi, Pejawar Shree vowed to exert pressure on Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa to fulfill the demands of displaced families.

Expressing his support to the cause of the agitators, Swamiji said that he is aware of the problems faced by the youth of the project displaced families, who have been deceived by the company after undergoing prolonged training.

Around two hundred youth, belonging to MSEZ affected families, who have already completed training and those who are being trained at the Karnataka Polytechnic (KPT) are taking part in the protest. The seer also received a memorandum from the protesters.

Currently, 186 candidates have completed the training imparted by the company, while 188 other candidates are still undergoing job training. Most of them had stopped their education half way through following the company's assurance that they would get high salary jobs if they passed out of training classes.

The protesters are of the demand that all the 186 trained candidates be immediately recruited either in MRPL or ONGC and a written assurance be provided for the 188 youth, who are currently undergoing training that suitable jobs will be provided to them too, immediately after they complete their training. If they fail to provide jobs, they have to pay a compensation amount of Rs 30 lakh for each candidate for spoiling their future, the protesters demand.

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No more agency jobs? Karnataka panel pushes for end to job outsourcing by 2028

News Network

November 21,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 21: The Karnataka government is facing pressure to overhaul its employment system after a high-level Cabinet sub-committee recommended the complete phase-out of job outsourcing in government offices, boards, and corporations by March 2028. The move is aimed at tackling a systemic issue that has led to the potential violation of constitutional reservation policies and the exploitation of workers.

The Call for Systemic Change

With over three lakh vacant posts currently being filled through private agencies on an outsource, insource, or daily wage basis, the sub-committee highlighted a significant lapse. "As a result, reservations are not being followed as per the Constitution and state laws. It’s an urgent need to take serious steps to change the system. It has been recommended to completely stop the system of outsourcing by March 2028," the panel stated in a document.

The practice of outsourcing involves private companies hiring workers to perform duties for a government agency. Critics argue this model results in lesser salaries, a lack of social security benefits (otherwise available to permanent government employees), and a failure to adhere to the provisions of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and prohibit discrimination.

The 'Bidar Model' as a Stop-Gap Solution

To regulate the current mode of employment and reduce worker exploitation until the 2028 deadline, the government plans to establish workers’ services multi-purpose cooperative societies across all districts, following the successful "Bidar Model."

The Bidar District Services of Labour Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Ltd., which operates under the District Commissioner, is cited as a successful example of providing a measure of social security to outsourced staff. Labour Department officials argue this society ensures workers receive their due wages and statutory facilities like ESI (Employees' State Insurance) and PF (Provident Fund), in exchange for a 1% service fee collected from the employees.

legislative push and Priority Insourcing

The recommendations, led by the sub-committee headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, are set to be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting. The committee has proposed the introduction of the Karnataka Outsourced Employees (Regulation, Placement and Welfare) Bill 2025.

In a move addressing immediate concerns, Labour Minister Santosh Lad, a member of the sub-committee, has reportedly assured that steps will be taken over the next 2-3 years to insource workers in "life-threatening services" on a priority basis. This includes essential personnel like pourakarmikas (sanitation workers), drivers, electrical staff in the Energy Department, and Health Department staff handling contagious diseases. The transition aims to grant these workers the long-term security and benefits they currently lack under the outsourcing system.

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