Tax rebate for employers with 10% or 100 transgender employees

Enactment of special tax incentives has been proposed in the new budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year with a view to providing employment to and improving living standards and socio-economic integration of the third gender community.

While placing the budget in the parliament this afternoon, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said, "I propose to insert necessary provision in the law to provide tax rebate amounting to 75% of the total salary paid to the workers from the third gender or 5% of payable tax, whichever is lower, to the employers who will employ 10% of their total workforce or more than 100 workers from the members of the third gender."

Noting that the third gender community is lagging behind in socio-economic standards and is also keeping outside the mainstream society, the minister said social inclusion can be ensured by involving active people of the community into production-oriented occupations.

That is why the proposal of tax rebate has been made, he added.

Earlier, the National Board of Revenue made the proposal to mainstream transgender people by bringing about a change in people's mindset about third gender persons who face discrimination and are marginalised in society.

Currently, there is no financial benefit on offer for businesses that employ third gender workers.