Latest news with #ConcurrentList
News18
29-07-2025
- Business
- News18
‘Not in Employees' Benefit': Karnataka Opposes Centre's 10-Hour Workday Proposal
Last Updated: The Karnataka government plans to reject the Centre's proposal to extend daily working hours from 9 to 10 The Karnataka government is all set to reject the Centre's proposal to amend the Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act of 1961, which would extend the daily working hours from 9 to 10, while maintaining the weekly cap at 48 hours. The state government asserts that the proposed change offers no discernible benefit to employees and is currently awaiting a formal decision from the Chief Minister and the Cabinet. Karnataka's Labour Minister, Santhosh Lad, highlighted the state's reservations, emphasising the potential hardship for workers. 'In a city like Bangalore, on average, you need 2 hours to commute, and if they spend 10 hours on the floor, it's 12 hours in a day," Lad stated. 'I don't see this benefiting the employees." He further noted the lack of positive reception to the idea among Human Resources professionals at a recent congregation, where a poll for support yielded no raised hands. The state's rejection of the proposal is grounded in two key arguments—first, labour is a subject under the Concurrent List, granting Karnataka equal policy-making authority and competence; and second, Karnataka's current labour framework already includes provisions for overtime work beyond the standard 9 hours daily and 48 hours weekly. Minister Lad indicated that while the state is open to dialogue if specific industries demand such a change, any discussion would involve careful consideration of employee sentiment and the presence of trade unions. He affirmed his intention to discuss the matter with the Chief Minister before a final government decision. Meanwhile, the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) has claimed victory, attributing the government's current stance to their sustained agitation. KITU, the sole registered union for IT sector employees in Karnataka, stated that they have been leading extensive campaigns against the proposed amendment. In a strong statement, KITU asserted that the amendment was 'a direct attack on a worker's fundamental right to a personal life" and vowed to prevent its implementation under any circumstances. A formal decision on the matter is expected soon from the Chief Minister and the Cabinet. view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 23:29 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Work hours row: Karnataka to reject Centre's 10hr/day work proposal; here's why
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (File photo) BENGALURU: The state govt has opposed the Centre's proposal to amend Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act of 1961 and increase working hours from 9 to 10 per day, subject to keeping the weekly quota at 48 work hours. Karnataka has decided to reject the proposal on two grounds: The labour subject falls under the Concurrent List and the state is competent and enjoys an equal policy elbowroom; and the existing labour matrix in Karnataka has provision for over time in addition to the schedule of 9 hours a day and 48 hours a week. According to labour department officials, the state took the decision on rejecting the amendment soon after the Centre's proposal came in. But the state is yet to officially communicate it to the Centre. The decision was made after extensive deliberations with stakeholders, officials said, adding the existing labour laws will continue to remain in force. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru However, labour commissioner HN Gopalkrishna told TOI a final report on the issue is pending review with the labour minister. We have sent our report to the minister, who, in turn, is expected to discuss it with the chief minister and arrive at a final decision on the issue. We're yet to accept or reject the report,' he said. Gopalkrishna said the stakeholders' meeting had seen an overwhelming opposition from trade unions against increasing working hours and the same has been recorded in the report. It is said labour minister Santosh S Lad has already communicated to the department secretary to send correspondence to the Centre, informing the state's position on the move. Sources pointed to the state's policy fluidity through an amendment to the Factories and Boilers Act, which suggests extending workinghours as long as employers, employees and govt willingly agree to such a proposal. 'The previous BJP govt brought in this amendment and the same is acceptable if the labour department is informed of the decision. This can be applied on a case-to-case basis for other sectors as well. But the recent amendment (suggested by the Centre) is an extreme measure with a far-reaching impact on the employee-employment culture,' an official said. Sources argued that since the labour sector falls under the Concurrent List and is a state subject, Karnataka is well within its rights to reject the 'suggestion' made by the Centre. Coming under considerable internal pressure, the top bureaucracy of the state and certain departments were reportedly in favour of an amendment suggested by the Centre. Even the IT and ITeS lobby has been seeking this amendment as it will validate its decisions to increase working hours in its sector. An official said that the department has taken a clear view and decided to reject the proposal. 'In fact, Lad communicated to the Centre at a meeting of all labour ministers early this year,' added the official.
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
States, UTs free to decide modalities of implementing three-language policy, says Union Minister of State
Since education is a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, it is up to the respective State and Union Territory governments to decide on the modalities of implementing the three-language policy, in accordance with the spirit and recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 21, 2025). The policy emphasised the promotion of multilingualism and encourages States/UTs to adopt the three-language formula in a flexible manner, taking local needs, linguistic diversity, and implementation feasibility into consideration, the Minister said. In his reply to a query by Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore and Namakkal MP V.S. Matheswaran, Mr. Chaudhary cited a provision in the NEP 2020, which stated that the three-language formula would continue to be implemented, keeping in mind the Constitutional provisions, but that 'there will be a greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any State.' The Minister further said the Government of India regularly consulted experts, linguists, State and national-level policy makers, curriculum developers and implementers, practising teachers and students, parents, teachers, teacher educators, parents, NGOs (and also students) working in the field of policy formulations and curriculum development. 'Prior to the formulation of the National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, a large number of stakeholders were consulted in person and also through digital means. All the regions/States were consulted and the opinions and practices of the various school systems were also taken into consideration for the making of the policy,' he said. As a follow-up of NEP 2020, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE), 2023, has been developed, and it provides a roadmap for the implementation of NEP 2020 on Languages Education in India, he said. 'The NCF aims to make a student an independent speaker, reader, and writer in at least three languages denoted as R1, R2 and R3.' While R1 was the first language in which students learn literacy, ideally their mother tongue or, if not feasible, the State language, which would be a familiar language, with proficiency expected by age 8, R2 was the second language distinct from R1, with proficiency to be achieved by age 11. R3 was the third language different from R1 and R2, with proficiency targeted by age 14, the Minister said.
Daily Express
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Emulate Sarawak's decision to retain the youth age: LDP
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 Text Size: Chin believes that Sabah, which shares similar socio-economic structures, rural challenges and cultural values with Sarawak, must assert its own rights to decide youth policies that reflect its people's realities — not simply follow top-down federal directives. Kota Kinabalu: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Datuk Chin Shu Ying on Tuesday called on the State Government to emulate Sarawak's decision to retain the youth age definition at 40 years and to reject the Federal Government's move to lower it to 30 years starting Jan 1, 2026. Sarawak's Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, has made it clear that Sarawak will not follow the federal redefinition. Advertisement Instead, it will maintain its current policy, recognising youths as individuals aged between 15 and 40 years old. This position by Sarawak not only reflects the State's constitutional autonomy over youth matters under the Concurrent List but also demonstrates a sound understanding of its own social, economic and developmental context. Chin believes that Sabah, which shares similar socio-economic structures, rural challenges and cultural values with Sarawak, must assert its own rights to decide youth policies that reflect its people's realities — not simply follow top-down federal directives. 'In Sabah, many individuals only begin to settle into their careers, complete their education, or start families in their early to mid-30s. 'For them, the ages between 30 and 40 are a critical phase of personal growth, leadership development and contribution to society. 'Hence, reducing the youth age limit to 30 would result in the exclusion of these individuals from youth-related opportunities, including funding schemes, leadership roles in youth organisations, training programmes and public engagement platforms,' he said in a statement. Chin said such exclusion would not only hinder their development but also destabilise many existing youth organisations in Sabah, especially in rural and indigenous communities where age-based mentorship and intergenerational continuity are essential. He emphasised that youth development is not simply about chronological age — it is about capacity building, empowerment and readiness. Prematurely capping this group's access to support and participation could stunt Sabah's long-term human capital growth, he added. Sarawak's implementation of a flexible model — where 70pc of youth leaders are between 18 and 40 years old, and 30pc may be older — offers a pragmatic and inclusive formula. Therefore, Chin said he believes Sabah should adopt a similar approach to balance renewal with continuity. 'Sabah has every constitutional right to chart its own course in youth affairs. The Federal Constitution provides states with concurrent authority on youth matters, and like Sarawak, Sabah should act in the best interests of its people. 'In indigenous and rural Sabahan societies, individuals aged 30 and above are still regarded as young, active and deeply involved in local leadership. Their roles are indispensable in preserving culture, guiding younger generations, and stabilizing community networks,' he said. Chin warned that blindly adopting a West Malaysia-centric model risks weakening the foundation of Sabah's community leadership and excluding a generation still in transition. 'Good governance must be rooted in local adaptability — not rigid standardisation. Therefore, I propose three key actions. First, the Sabah Government should publicly reaffirm its decision to retain the youth age limit at 40. 'Second, it should consider adopting a flexible leadership quota similar to Sarawak's. 'Third, it should initiate a consultation process involving youth organizations, indigenous groups, and experts to draft a Sabah-specific Youth Development Blueprint. 'The State Legislative Assembly should also table this issue for debate, allowing all stakeholders to present data, views, and on-the-ground experiences. Policy should not be formulated in isolation but with open, inclusive dialogue,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala's stray dog management under scanner as dog bites and rabies deaths spike
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The rise in stray dog attacks and rabies deaths have yet again reignited debates over the state's handling of the stray dog menace. Inefficiency of the local self-government institutions (LSGI) in utilising funds for implementing projects for stray dog management is cited as one of the main reasons for the rise in the attacks. As per official data, over the past two years, the LSGIs spent only Rs 13.59 crore out of the total allocation of Rs 98.93 crore. Over 1.65 lakh people have been bitten by stray dogs in Kerala in the past five months, leading to 17 deaths. The other day, Kerala State Human Rights Commission pulled up the state government demanding an action plan for managing stray dogs. Meanwhile, the LSGD is blaming the Central law for poor management of stray dogs. However, a social media post by bureaucrat N Prasanth in response to the Facebook post by LSG Minister M B Rajesh has further sparked debate. Prasanth countered Rajesh's argument, stating that the state had broader legislative options. Prasanth told TNIE that animal welfare is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, enabling states to pass context-specific laws. Citing Tamil Nadu's legislation on Jallikattu and Kerala's own 1968 law banning animal sacrifice, he said that Kerala could enact a specific law -- such as a Kerala Public Safety and Aggressive Animals Regulation Act -- to regulate or remove violent stray animals. With mounting pressure, a meeting has been called by LSGD and animal husbandry department on July 16 to discuss solutions for the crisis. Minister Rajesh told TNIE that the state has sought legal advice multiple times to address the stray dog menace and there is no such provisions to bring a legal framework to kill aggressive dogs. 'There is a Supreme Court ruling and as per existing laws, the state can only sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs. The law also restricts killing of rabid dogs and as per rule, a rabid dog should be left to die. If it was legally possible, the state would have done it already. If there is a possibility for a legal framework, we will definitely do it. This law is applicable for every state in the country and none of the other states has come up with such a law for culling dogs,' said Rajesh.
