WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Can an independent body impose penalties in workplace sexual harassment settlements?

No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment indicates that legislation does not specifically prohibit sexual harassment at the workplace, nor does it prohibit sexual harassment perpetrated by a person in a position of authority. This does not mean that legislation denies this guarantee.

No independent complaint mechanism for individuals means that, while legislation prohibits workplace sexual harassment, 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 workplace sexual harassment 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 sexual harassment 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 sexual harassment, 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

Angola - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Antigua and Barbuda - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Belarus - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Botswana - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Brunei - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Canada - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Republic of the Congo - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Cuba - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Dominica - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

The Gambia - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Grenada - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Guatemala - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Guinea-Bissau - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Haiti - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Indonesia - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Iran - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Jamaica - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Jordan - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Kazakhstan - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Kuwait - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Mali - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Mauritania - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Micronesia, Federated States of - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Myanmar - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Nauru - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Nigeria - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Palau - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Qatar - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Russian Federation - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

San Marino - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Seychelles - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Solomon Islands - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Somalia - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

St. Kitts and Nevis - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Sudan - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Suriname - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Eswatini - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Syria - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Tajikistan - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Tonga - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Trinidad and Tobago - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Turkmenistan - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Vanuatu - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Yemen - No prohibition of workplace sexual harassment

Afghanistan - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Algeria - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Andorra - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Armenia - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Bahamas - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Belize - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Brazil - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Cameroon - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Central African Republic - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Chad - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Czech Republic - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Egypt - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

El Salvador - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Eritrea - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

France - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Greenland - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Guyana - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Honduras - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Italy - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Latvia - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Lebanon - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Monaco - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Morocco - 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

Pakistan - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Papua New Guinea - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Paraguay - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Portugal - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Samoa - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Sao Tome and Principe - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Saudi Arabia - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Senegal - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Singapore - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Sri Lanka - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Sweden - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Switzerland - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Tanzania - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Tunisia - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

United Arab Emirates - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

United Kingdom - No independent complaint mechanism for individuals

Argentina - No explicit penalties

Australia - No explicit penalties

Azerbaijan - No explicit penalties

Benin - No explicit penalties

Bolivia - No explicit penalties

Burundi - No explicit penalties

Cambodia - No explicit penalties

China - No explicit penalties

Colombia - No explicit penalties

Democratic Republic of the Congo - No explicit penalties

Cote d'Ivoire - No explicit penalties

Equatorial Guinea - No explicit penalties

Estonia - No explicit penalties

Germany - No explicit penalties

Ghana - No explicit penalties

Guinea - No explicit penalties

India - No explicit penalties

Israel - No explicit penalties

Japan - No explicit penalties

Kyrgyzstan - No explicit penalties

Liechtenstein - No explicit penalties

Luxembourg - No explicit penalties

Madagascar - No explicit penalties

Maldives - No explicit penalties

Malta - No explicit penalties

Moldova - No explicit penalties

Mongolia - No explicit penalties

Namibia - No explicit penalties

The Netherlands - No explicit penalties

Niger - No explicit penalties

The Philippines - No explicit penalties

Poland - No explicit penalties

Rwanda - No explicit penalties

South Africa - No explicit penalties

Tuvalu - No explicit penalties

Ukraine - No explicit penalties

United States of America - No explicit penalties

Uzbekistan - No explicit penalties

Zimbabwe - No explicit penalties

Albania - Explicit penalties

Austria - Explicit penalties

Bahrain - Explicit penalties

Bangladesh - Explicit penalties

Barbados - Explicit penalties

Belgium - Explicit penalties

Bhutan - Explicit penalties

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Explicit penalties

Bulgaria - Explicit penalties

Burkina Faso - Explicit penalties

Cabo Verde - Explicit penalties

Chile - Explicit penalties

Comoros - Explicit penalties

Costa Rica - Explicit penalties

Croatia - Explicit penalties

Cyprus - Explicit penalties

Denmark - Explicit penalties

Djibouti - Explicit penalties

Dominican Republic - Explicit penalties

Ecuador - Explicit penalties

Ethiopia - Explicit penalties

Fiji - Explicit penalties

Finland - Explicit penalties

Gabon - Explicit penalties

Georgia - Explicit penalties

Greece - Explicit penalties

Hungary - Explicit penalties

Iceland - Explicit penalties

Iraq - Explicit penalties

Ireland - Explicit penalties

Kenya - Explicit penalties

Kiribati - Explicit penalties

Republic of Korea - Explicit penalties

Laos - Explicit penalties

Lesotho - Explicit penalties

Liberia - Explicit penalties

Libya - Explicit penalties

Lithuania - Explicit penalties

North Macedonia - Explicit penalties

Malawi - Explicit penalties

Malaysia - Explicit penalties

Marshall Islands - Explicit penalties

Mauritius - Explicit penalties

Montenegro - Explicit penalties

Nepal - Explicit penalties

New Zealand - Explicit penalties

Norway - Explicit penalties

Panama - Explicit penalties

Peru - Explicit penalties

Romania - Explicit penalties

Serbia - Explicit penalties

Slovakia - Explicit penalties

Slovenia - Explicit penalties

South Sudan - Explicit penalties

Spain - Explicit penalties

St. Lucia - Explicit penalties

Thailand - Explicit penalties

Timor-Leste - Explicit penalties

Türkiye - Explicit penalties

Uganda - Explicit penalties

Uruguay - Explicit penalties

Venezuela - Explicit penalties

Vietnam - Explicit penalties

Zambia - Explicit penalties