Tax rebate for employing third gender workers

To ensure employment, standard living, and social and economic integration of members of the third gender communities in Bangladesh, the government has proposed to enact special tax incentives in the proposed budget for those who will employ third gender workers.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal proposed a tax rebate for employers who will recruit 10 percent of their total workforce -- or more than 100 workers -- from the third gender community.

"The rebate will amount to 75 percent of the total salary paid to workers from the third gender community or 5 percent of the payable tax, whichever is lower," he said while presenting the budget today.

"The present government is relentlessly working to integrate the marginal and the underprivileged population of the country into mainstream society and economy," he said, adding that "the third gender community belongs to the marginal and the underprivileged section of the society."  

"Compared to others, the third gender community is lagging in socio-economic standards and are left outside the mainstream society. Social inclusion can be ensured by involving active people of this community in the production-oriented occupation," he added.