Karnataka Amendment News Today

Karnataka assembly passes bill to raise the legal age to buy cigarettes to 21, aiming to deter youth from smoking. Ban on hookah bars also imposed.

The Karnataka government introduced the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Bill, 2024, raising the legal age for purchasing cigarettes. The sale of cigarettes near schools is banned. Unauthorized hookah bars face severe penalties. Smoking and spitting of tobacco in public places is prohibited to promote public health and reduce tobacco-related risks.

Trade union activists have been demanding the revoking of the Factories (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2023, which allowed establishments to have 12-hour workdays instead of eight-hour workdays.

Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a long discussion with a delegation of farmer leaders of the Samyuktha Horata-Karnataka Forum led by farmers, Dalits, labourers, students, and planning and women's organisations and made several important announcements to solve the problems of the farmers and workers as per Law. India News | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Promises to Resolve Problems of Farmers, Workers as Per Law.

Incidents of reluctant buffaloes falling on the ground trying to break free were also seen. While a buffalo was seen dropping to the ground at the start, the animal was whacked with sticks to force it back on its feet. ​

The amendments brought through the Factories (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2023 allow an increase in the daily working hours from the present nine (including an hour of rest) to a maximum of 12 hours, subject to a total of 48 hours in a week. ​

Over 130 pairs of buffaloes from Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada and Udupi as well as from Kerala's Kasaragod will participate in the event which is expected to be attended by about 7-8 lakh people.

A revenue official said the Registration (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2023, will be tabled in the ongoing monsoon session of the legislature.

India: Proterial electronics workers strike in Haryana; Karnataka factory workers oppose 12-hour working-day laws; Australia: UGL Rail Services workers strike in NSW for higher pay; South Australian public hospital health workers protest low pay and increased workloads.

Apple and Foxconn successfully lobbied Indias Karnataka region to extend legal working hours in factories, but labor unions are starting to push back.