GANDHINAGAR: After the failure of the “guidelines” in the 1995 policy — that 85% of jobs go to locals at industrial units being established in

— and growing political pressure over unemployment, chief minister

on Tuesday announced that a new law would be enacted to make sure industrial units give 80% of jobs to persons who are domiciled in the state.

Addressing the beneficiaries of Chief Minister’s Apprentice Training Programme in Ahmedabad, Rupani said, “We are going to make legal provisions that companies entering the industrial and service sector here will have to give 80% of the jobs to Gujaratis. The government is forming a law for this. The companies will also be responsible for giving local residents of the site in question 25% jobs. We want locals to benefit in terms of jobs.”

Vipul

, additional chief secretary of the labour and employment department said, “As the CM said, an ordinance is expected shortly. The objective of the law will be to provide maximum employment to locals at existing and upcoming industrial units. The government has decided to enact a law as the existing policy is more of a guideline. The new law will empower the government to take action against industrial units violating these norms or block financial and other incentives as there is no point of incentives if locals do not get jobs.”