West Bengal to offer incentives for hiring women and transgender people
The Investment Promotion Policy, 2026, includes increased reimbursements for employers who hire women and transgender employees.
The West Bengal government's new Investment Promotion Policy, 2026, will provide incentives to companies that hire more women and transgender people, according to The Indian Express. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to unveil the policy on Thursday.
Under the plan, eligible micro, small and medium enterprises will receive a 50 per cent reimbursement of the employer's EPF contribution for male employees. This reimbursement will increase to 100 per cent for women and transgender employees, with a cap of Rs 5 crore per unit per financial year.
Larger units can receive a 50 per cent EPF reimbursement up to Rs 10 crore for five years. To qualify, these units must employ 200 people in a priority area and 400 people in other areas.
The policy also proposes a single window portal to simplify business processes. An official stated that the portal will serve as the main interface for applications, approvals, and grievances, with designated officers and timelines for each stage.
The government will also provide grants for working women's hostels in clusters or parks that employ more than 100 women. Additionally, eligible units can receive government support for research and development, covering 50 per cent of setup costs, or 75 per cent for export-oriented units up to Rs 5 crore.
The policy categorises industries into 'thrust' and 'strategic' sectors, including semiconductors, green hydrogen, and electric vehicles. Certain industries, such as sponge iron plants and tobacco-based products, will not be eligible for incentives.