'Standing Orders' In Karnataka State, India

Since 2014, the state government of Karnataka has exempted companies operating in the IT, animation, gaming, computer graphics, telecom and certain other specified knowledge-based industries from the requirements of 'standing orders' legislation (the IESO Act) in order to encourage the growth of IT sector and boost employment in the state.

The IESO Act requires certain employers to formally define the conditions and rules of employment (including the rules for hiring, dismissal, shift working, hours of work, wage rates, suspension allowance, and transfers) for workmen as part of their 'standing orders'. These standing orders must be submitted in draft form to the labour department for certification, and the workmen are permitted to raise their objections during the certification process. Once the standing orders are certified, the employer must publish them at a conspicuous location in the workplace. Additionally, the IESO Act does not permit an employer to amend