Karnataka job quota: Social media erupts with #BoycottPhonePe after CEO's remarks

Karnataka: PhonePe, a popular instant payments app, is facing severe criticism and boycott calls after its CEO and Co-Founder, Sameer Nigam, opposed the Karnataka government's proposed jobs quota bill. This bill aims to reserve a portion of private sector jobs for local residents.

Sameer Nigam voiced his disapproval in a social media post, calling the proposal a "shame."

He shared his personal experience, saying, "I am 46 years old. I've never lived in one state for more than 15 years because my father worked in the Indian Navy and was posted all over the country. Do my kids not deserve jobs in Karnataka just because we moved around? I have created over 25,000 jobs across India. Is it fair that my kids can't work in their home city?"

Nigam's comments sparked outrage on social media, with hashtags like #UninstallPhonePe and #BoycottPhonePe trending on the platform X.

The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, was approved by the state Cabinet and is set to be presented in the Assembly. The Bill drafted by the Labour Department claimed that jobs of industries operating in the state are going to the states of North India. The Bill states that industries that get infrastructure including land and water from the state should give reservations for jobs to the locals, and this has been approved in the cabinet meeting.

On Wednesday several industry leaders in the state had objected to the move saying that it is "discriminatory" and raised apprehensions that the tech industry may suffer. Mohandas Pai, the Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services said that the Bill is "fascist" and also unconstitutional.

Well-known entrepreneur and former Chief Finance Officer of Infosys, TV Mohandas Pai dubbed the bill as "regressive".

Karnataka's bill is similar to a previous bill by the Haryana government, which mandated 75 percent reservation in private sector jobs for local residents. However, this bill was struck down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in November 2023.

(With agency inputs)