For quite some time, the Telugu Desam Party leaders have been alleging that the YSR Congress party leaders have been bringing pressure on the management of Kia Motor India in Anantapur for giving 75 per cent jobs to locals, particularly, those recommended by local party leaders.
The TDP leaders have also pointed out that YSRC MP from Hindupur had written a protest comment on the Kia car against non-provision of jobs to locals.
Even TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu made a strong comment that the ancillary units of Kia Motors are shifting to other states due to this 75 per cent-jobs-to-locals clause.
He also questioned the propriety of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government for insisting on this clause, stating that it would not bring any investments to the state.
But not many people know that the previous TDP government itself had introduced this clause of reservation of jobs for locals while designing its integrated automotive and economic development policy to start “Backward Areas Ultra Mega Integrated Automobile Project” in 2017.
This project is aimed at bringing Kia Motors to Andhra Pradesh by offering an incentive package on par with or better than that is offered by other competing states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Among various clauses in this new policy, the TDP government insisted that the company shall provide direct employment of 4000 workers and temporary employment of 7000 workers collectively by the project proponent and its associates/ancillary suppliers/vendors.
It further said the government would provide land and building for industrial trainig centre subject to the condition that the company and its associates/ancillary suppliers provide 80% employment to candidates belonging to Andhra Pradesh.
What is more, it said mandatory employment to local people should be given in all unskilled jobs.
The government also insisted that the company provides vocational training to local candidates from within the state to meet the industry standards of employability within five years. The company was asked to regularise all contract labourers within five years.
Apparently, Kia Motors had accepted all the conditions in policy, including providing 80 per cent of the jobs to locals. But when the company actually started production, it simply ignored the local employment clause and the TDP government, remained blind to it.
Now, the same people are blaming the YSRC government for insisting on 75 per cent quota for locals!