WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Can an independent body impose penalties in workplace gender discrimination settlements?

No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination indicates that legislation does not specifically prohibit workplace gender discrimination broadly, nor specifically in hiring, promotions and/or demotions, training, pay, nor terminations. This does not mean that legislation denies this guarantee.

No independent complaint mechanism for individuals means that while legislation prohibits at least some form of workplace gender discrimination, there are no options for individuals to pursue remedies through alternative dispute resolution at low or no cost through public institutions such as labor commissions, equality bodies, and human rights commissions if they have experienced gender discrimination at work. These mechanisms can provide remedies to common individual workplace discrimination claims at lower cost and in a shorter period than going to court.

No explicit penalties means that, while at least some aspect of workplace gender discrimination is prohibited and there are options for individuals to pursue remedies through alternative dispute resolution at public institutions, legislation does not outline any specific penalties for perpetrators of workplace gender discrimination or company leadership. This does not mean that legislation denies the imposition of these penalties.

Explicit penalties means individuals may pursue remedies through alternative dispute resolution for workplace gender discrimination, and legislation outlines penalties when an independent body finds it has occurred. Penalties may include fines, mandated workplace trainings, or apologies, as well as specific measures for the perpetrator including disciplinary measures, transfer, demotion, termination, and individual action plans.

Countries

Afghanistan - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Brunei - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Malaysia - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Micronesia, Federated States of - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Myanmar - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Nauru - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Nigeria - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Palau - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Sierra Leone - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Singapore - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Solomon Islands - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Sri Lanka - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Sudan - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Tonga - No prohibition of workplace gender discrimination

Algeria - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Andorra - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Belarus - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Chad - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Cuba - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

El Salvador - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Greenland - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Guatemala - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Guinea-Bissau - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Guyana - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Italy - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Jordan - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Latvia - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Mali - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Monaco - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Mozambique - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Nicaragua - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Oman - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Papua New Guinea - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Paraguay - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Sao Tome and Principe - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Saudi Arabia - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Sweden - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Switzerland - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Tajikistan - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

United Arab Emirates - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

United Kingdom - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Vanuatu - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Argentina - No explicit penalties

Armenia - No explicit penalties

Australia - No explicit penalties

Azerbaijan - No explicit penalties

Barbados - No explicit penalties

Belize - No explicit penalties

Benin - No explicit penalties

Botswana - No explicit penalties

Brazil - No explicit penalties

Burundi - No explicit penalties

Cameroon - No explicit penalties

Canada - No explicit penalties

Central African Republic - No explicit penalties

China - No explicit penalties

Colombia - No explicit penalties

Comoros - No explicit penalties

Costa Rica - No explicit penalties

Cote d'Ivoire - No explicit penalties

Dominica - No explicit penalties

Eritrea - No explicit penalties

Estonia - No explicit penalties

The Gambia - No explicit penalties

Germany - No explicit penalties

Ghana - No explicit penalties

Grenada - No explicit penalties

Indonesia - No explicit penalties

Kazakhstan - No explicit penalties

Kyrgyzstan - No explicit penalties

Liechtenstein - No explicit penalties

Maldives - No explicit penalties

Malta - No explicit penalties

Moldova - No explicit penalties

Mongolia - No explicit penalties

Morocco - No explicit penalties

Namibia - No explicit penalties

The Netherlands - No explicit penalties

Pakistan - No explicit penalties

The Philippines - No explicit penalties

Poland - No explicit penalties

Portugal - No explicit penalties

Rwanda - No explicit penalties

Samoa - No explicit penalties

San Marino - No explicit penalties

Senegal - No explicit penalties

South Africa - No explicit penalties

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - No explicit penalties

Eswatini - No explicit penalties

Tanzania - No explicit penalties

Trinidad and Tobago - No explicit penalties

Turkmenistan - No explicit penalties

Tuvalu - No explicit penalties

Ukraine - No explicit penalties

United States of America - No explicit penalties

Uzbekistan - No explicit penalties

Albania - Explicit penalties

Angola - Explicit penalties

Antigua and Barbuda - Explicit penalties

Austria - Explicit penalties

Bahamas - Explicit penalties

Bahrain - Explicit penalties

Bangladesh - Explicit penalties

Belgium - Explicit penalties

Bhutan - Explicit penalties

Bolivia - Explicit penalties

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Explicit penalties

Bulgaria - Explicit penalties

Burkina Faso - Explicit penalties

Cambodia - Explicit penalties

Cabo Verde - Explicit penalties

Chile - Explicit penalties

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Explicit penalties

Republic of the Congo - Explicit penalties

Croatia - Explicit penalties

Cyprus - Explicit penalties

Czech Republic - Explicit penalties

Denmark - Explicit penalties

Djibouti - Explicit penalties

Dominican Republic - Explicit penalties

Ecuador - Explicit penalties

Egypt - Explicit penalties

Equatorial Guinea - Explicit penalties

Ethiopia - Explicit penalties

Fiji - Explicit penalties

Finland - Explicit penalties

France - Explicit penalties

Gabon - Explicit penalties

Georgia - Explicit penalties

Greece - Explicit penalties

Guinea - Explicit penalties

Haiti - Explicit penalties

Honduras - Explicit penalties

Hungary - Explicit penalties

Iceland - Explicit penalties

India - Explicit penalties

Iran - Explicit penalties

Iraq - Explicit penalties

Ireland - Explicit penalties

Israel - Explicit penalties

Jamaica - Explicit penalties

Japan - Explicit penalties

Kenya - Explicit penalties

Kiribati - Explicit penalties

Republic of Korea - Explicit penalties

Kuwait - Explicit penalties

Laos - Explicit penalties

Lebanon - Explicit penalties

Lesotho - Explicit penalties

Liberia - Explicit penalties

Libya - Explicit penalties

Lithuania - Explicit penalties

Luxembourg - Explicit penalties

North Macedonia - Explicit penalties

Madagascar - Explicit penalties

Malawi - Explicit penalties

Marshall Islands - Explicit penalties

Mauritania - Explicit penalties

Mauritius - Explicit penalties

Montenegro - Explicit penalties

Nepal - Explicit penalties

New Zealand - Explicit penalties

Niger - Explicit penalties

Norway - Explicit penalties

Panama - Explicit penalties

Peru - Explicit penalties

Qatar - Explicit penalties

Romania - Explicit penalties

Russian Federation - Explicit penalties

Serbia - Explicit penalties

Seychelles - Explicit penalties

Slovakia - Explicit penalties

Slovenia - Explicit penalties

Somalia - Explicit penalties

South Sudan - Explicit penalties

Spain - Explicit penalties

St. Kitts and Nevis - Explicit penalties

St. Lucia - Explicit penalties

Syria - Explicit penalties

Thailand - Explicit penalties

Timor-Leste - Explicit penalties

Tunisia - Explicit penalties

Türkiye - Explicit penalties

Uganda - Explicit penalties

Uruguay - Explicit penalties

Venezuela - Explicit penalties

Vietnam - Explicit penalties

Zambia - Explicit penalties

Zimbabwe - Explicit penalties