WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Is there at least some explicit legislative prohibition of workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation?

The term “sexual orientation” includes references to ‘sexual preference’ and ‘homosexuality’. For the purposes of this variable, the term “sexual orientation” captures all of these definitions.

The term ‘gender’ refers to country references to ‘gender’ or ‘sex’ or specific protections for ‘female’ or ‘women’ employees.

No explicit protection means that country legislation does not explicitly prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation nor gender broadly, nor specifically against discrimination in hiring, pay, promotions and/or demotions, training, nor terminations.

Prohibition based on gender means that country legislation does explicitly prohibit at least one of these forms of workplace discrimination on the basis of gender, but does not address sexual orientation. In some countries, these provisions have been interpreted to cover sexual orientation through case law or regulations.

Prohibition based on sexual orientation means that country legislation does explicitly prohibit at least one of these forms of workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Countries

Afghanistan - No explicit prohibition

Brunei - No explicit prohibition

Malaysia - No explicit prohibition

Micronesia, Federated States of - No explicit prohibition

Myanmar - No explicit prohibition

Nauru - No explicit prohibition

Nigeria - No explicit prohibition

Palau - No explicit prohibition

Sierra Leone - No explicit prohibition

Singapore - No explicit prohibition

Solomon Islands - No explicit prohibition

Sri Lanka - No explicit prohibition

Sudan - No explicit prohibition

Tonga - No explicit prohibition

Algeria - Prohibition based on gender

Antigua and Barbuda - Prohibition based on gender

Argentina - Prohibition based on gender

Armenia - Prohibition based on gender

Azerbaijan - Prohibition based on gender

Bahamas - Prohibition based on gender

Bahrain - Prohibition based on gender

Bangladesh - Prohibition based on gender

Belarus - Prohibition based on gender

Belize - Prohibition based on gender

Benin - Prohibition based on gender

Bhutan - Prohibition based on gender

Bolivia - Prohibition based on gender

Brazil - Prohibition based on gender

Burkina Faso - Prohibition based on gender

Burundi - Prohibition based on gender

Cambodia - Prohibition based on gender

Cameroon - Prohibition based on gender

Central African Republic - Prohibition based on gender

Chad - Prohibition based on gender

China - Prohibition based on gender

Comoros - Prohibition based on gender

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Prohibition based on gender

Republic of the Congo - Prohibition based on gender

Cote d'Ivoire - Prohibition based on gender

Djibouti - Prohibition based on gender

Dominica - Prohibition based on gender

Dominican Republic - Prohibition based on gender

Egypt - Prohibition based on gender

El Salvador - Prohibition based on gender

Equatorial Guinea - Prohibition based on gender

Eritrea - Prohibition based on gender

Ethiopia - Prohibition based on gender

Gabon - Prohibition based on gender

The Gambia - Prohibition based on gender

Ghana - Prohibition based on gender

Greenland - Prohibition based on gender

Grenada - Prohibition based on gender

Guatemala - Prohibition based on gender

Guinea - Prohibition based on gender

Guinea-Bissau - Prohibition based on gender

Guyana - Prohibition based on gender

Haiti - Prohibition based on gender

India - Prohibition based on gender

Indonesia - Prohibition based on gender

Iran - Prohibition based on gender

Iraq - Prohibition based on gender

Jamaica - Prohibition based on gender

Japan - Prohibition based on gender

Jordan - Prohibition based on gender

Kazakhstan - Prohibition based on gender

Kenya - Prohibition based on gender

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Prohibition based on gender

Republic of Korea - Prohibition based on gender

Kuwait - Prohibition based on gender

Kyrgyzstan - Prohibition based on gender

Laos - Prohibition based on gender

Lebanon - Prohibition based on gender

Lesotho - Prohibition based on gender

Libya - Prohibition based on gender

Liechtenstein - Prohibition based on gender

Madagascar - Prohibition based on gender

Malawi - Prohibition based on gender

Maldives - Prohibition based on gender

Mali - Prohibition based on gender

Marshall Islands - Prohibition based on gender

Mauritania - Prohibition based on gender

Monaco - Prohibition based on gender

Mongolia - Prohibition based on gender

Morocco - Prohibition based on gender

Namibia - Prohibition based on gender

Nepal - Prohibition based on gender

Niger - Prohibition based on gender

Oman - Prohibition based on gender

Pakistan - Prohibition based on gender

Panama - Prohibition based on gender

Papua New Guinea - Prohibition based on gender

Paraguay - Prohibition based on gender

Peru - Prohibition based on gender

The Philippines - Prohibition based on gender

Qatar - Prohibition based on gender

Russian Federation - Prohibition based on gender

Rwanda - Prohibition based on gender

San Marino - Prohibition based on gender

Saudi Arabia - Prohibition based on gender

Senegal - Prohibition based on gender

Somalia - Prohibition based on gender

South Sudan - Prohibition based on gender

St. Kitts and Nevis - Prohibition based on gender

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Prohibition based on gender

Eswatini - Prohibition based on gender

Switzerland - Prohibition based on gender

Syria - Prohibition based on gender

Tajikistan - Prohibition based on gender

Tanzania - Prohibition based on gender

Thailand - Prohibition based on gender

Timor-Leste - Prohibition based on gender

Togo - Prohibition based on gender

Trinidad and Tobago - Prohibition based on gender

Tunisia - Prohibition based on gender

Türkiye - Prohibition based on gender

Turkmenistan - Prohibition based on gender

Uganda - Prohibition based on gender

United Arab Emirates - Prohibition based on gender

United States of America - Prohibition based on gender

Uruguay - Prohibition based on gender

Uzbekistan - Prohibition based on gender

Vanuatu - Prohibition based on gender

Vietnam - Prohibition based on gender

Yemen - Prohibition based on gender

Zambia - Prohibition based on gender

Zimbabwe - Prohibition based on gender

Albania - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Andorra - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Angola - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Australia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Austria - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Barbados - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Belgium - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Botswana - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Bulgaria - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Canada - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Cabo Verde - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Chile - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Colombia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Costa Rica - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Croatia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Cuba - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Cyprus - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Czech Republic - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Denmark - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Ecuador - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Estonia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Fiji - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Finland - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

France - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Georgia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Germany - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Greece - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Honduras - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Hungary - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Iceland - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Ireland - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Israel - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Italy - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Kiribati - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Latvia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Liberia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Lithuania - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Luxembourg - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

North Macedonia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Malta - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Mauritius - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Mexico - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Moldova - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Montenegro - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Mozambique - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

The Netherlands - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

New Zealand - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Nicaragua - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Norway - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Poland - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Portugal - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Romania - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Samoa - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Sao Tome and Principe - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Serbia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Seychelles - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Slovakia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Slovenia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

South Africa - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Spain - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

St. Lucia - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Suriname - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Sweden - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Tuvalu - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Ukraine - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

United Kingdom - Prohibition based on sexual orientation

Venezuela - Prohibition based on sexual orientation