Economy Data , Bahamas, The

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Bahamas, The

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Region	Latin America & Caribbean
Income Group	High income
Population	391,232
Female Population	199,663
% of Women in the Workforce	47%

Topic scores

Accessing institutions	100
Using property	100
Getting a job	75
Providing incentives to work	80
Going to court	50
Building credit	0
Protecting women from violence	60

Scored Questions

Question	Answer	Score
Are wives required to obey their husbands?	No	1
Can a woman apply for a passport in the same way as a man?	Yes	1
Can a woman apply for a national identity card in the same way as a man?	N/A	..
Can a woman travel outside the country in the same way as a man?	Yes	1
Can a woman travel outside her home in the same way as a man?	Yes	1
Can a woman get a job in the same way as a man?	Yes	1
Can a woman sign a contract in the same way as a man?	Yes	1
Can a woman register a business in the same way as a man?	Yes	1
Can a woman open a bank account in the same way as a man?	Yes	1
Can a woman choose where to live in the same way as a man?	Yes	1
Can a woman be "head of household" in the same way as a man?	N/A	1

Constitutional rights

Question	Answer	Source
Does the constitution contain a clause on nondiscrimination?	Yes	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Art. 26
If there is a nondiscrimination clause in the constitution, does it mention sex or gender? The constitution, in article 15, entitles everyone to fundamental rights and freedoms whatever his sex, but does not use the term "discrimination."	No	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Does the constitution contain a clause on equality?	Yes	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Art. 15
Is customary law recognized as a valid source of law under the constitution?	No	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
If so, is customary law invalid if it violates constitutional provisions on nondiscrimination or equality?	N/A
Is personal law recognized as a valid source of law under the constitution?	No	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
If so, is personal law invalid if it violates constitutional provisions on nondiscrimination or equality?	N/A

Marital responsibility

Question	Answer	Source
Are wives required to obey their husbands?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Can a woman confer citizenship to a non-national spouse in the same way as a man?	No	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Art. 10
Do spouses jointly share responsibility for financially maintaining the family?	Yes	No applicable provisions could be located

Married and unmarried women

Question	Answer	Source
Can a married woman apply for a passport in the same way as a married man?	Yes	Passport application procedures Passport application form
Can an unmarried woman apply for a passport in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	Passport application procedures Passport application form
Can a married woman apply for a national identity card in the same way as a married man?	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
Can an unmarried woman apply for a national identity card in the same way as an unmarried man?	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
Can a married woman travel outside the country in the same way as a married man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can an unmarried woman travel outside the country in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can a married woman travel outside her home in the same way as a married man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can an unmarried woman travel outside her home in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can a married woman get a job in the same way as a married man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can an unmarried woman get a job in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can a married woman sign a contract in the same way as a married man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can an unmarried woman sign a contract in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can a married woman register a business in the same way as a married man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can an unmarried woman register a business in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can a married woman open a bank account in the same way as a married man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can an unmarried woman open a bank account in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can a married woman choose where to live in the same way as a married man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can an unmarried woman choose where to live in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can a married woman be "head of household" or "head of family" in the same way as a married man?	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
Can an unmarried woman be "head of household" or "head of family" in the same way as an unmarried man?	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
Can a married woman confer citizenship to her children in the same way as a married man?	No	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Arts. 8 and 9(1)
Can an unmarried woman confer citizenship to her children in the same way as an unmarried man?	Yes	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Arts. 8 and 14(1)

Quotas

Question	Answer	Source
What are the quotas for women on corporate boards?	No quota	No applicable provisions could be located
What are the reserved seat quotas for women in national parliament?	No quota	No applicable provisions could be located
What are the reserved seat quotas for women in municipal councils?	No quota	No applicable provisions could be located
What are the quotas for women on candidate lists in elections for national parliament?	No quota	No applicable provisions could be located
What are the quotas for women on candidate lists in elections for municipal councils?	No quota	No applicable provisions could be located
Are there sanctions for noncompliance with quotas for women on corporate boards?	N/A
Are there sanctions for noncompliance with quotas for women on candidate lists for national parliament elections?	N/A
Are there sanctions for noncompliance with quotas for women on candidate lists for municipal council elections?	N/A
Are there financial incentives to include women on corporate boards?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Are there financial incentives to include women on candidate lists for national parliament elections?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Are there financial incentives to include women on candidate lists for municipal council elections?	No	No applicable provisions could be located

Question	Answer	Score
Who legally administers marital property?	Original owner	1
Does the law provide for the valuation of nonmonetary contributions?	Yes	1
Do men and women have equal ownership rights to immovable property?	Yes	1
Do sons and daughters have equal inheritance rights?	Yes	1
Do female and male surviving spouses have equal inheritance rights?	Yes	1

Question	Answer	Source
What is the default marital property regime?	Separation of property	Married Women’s Property Act, Arts. 2(1), 3 and 6
Who administers marital property?	Original owner	Married Women's Property Act, Arts. 2(1), 3 and 6

Question	Answer	Source
If the husband administers property, is spousal consent required for major transactions?	N/A
Are there special provisions governing the marital home?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Does the law provide for valuation of nonmonetary contributions?	Yes	Matrimonial Causes Act, Art. 29(1)(f)

Question	Answer	Source
Do unmarried men and unmarried women have equal ownership rights to property?	Yes	The Constitution of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Art. 15
Do married men and married women have equal ownership rights to property?	Yes	Married Women's Property Act, Arts. 2(1), 3 and 6 The Constitution of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Art. 15

Question	Answer	Source
Do female and male surviving spouses have equal inheritance rights?	Yes	Inheritance Act 2002, Art. 4(a)
Do sons and daughters have equal inheritance rights?	Yes	Inheritance Act 2002, Art. 4(b)(i)

Question	Answer	Score
Is there paid leave available to women of at least 14 weeks?	No	0.93
Do women receive at least 2/3 of their wages for the first 14 weeks or the duration of the leave if it is shorter?	Yes	1
What is the percentage of maternity leave benefits paid by the government?	67%	0.67
What is the difference between leave reserved for women and men relative to leave reserved for women, as a function of who pays?	0.67	0.67
Is there paid parental leave?	No	0
Does the law mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value?	No	0
Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in employment?	Yes	1
Is dismissal of pregnant workers prohibited?	Yes	1
Can parents work flexibly?	No	0
Can women work the same night hours as men?	Yes	1
Can women work in jobs deemed hazardous, arduous or morally inappropriate in the same way as men?	Yes	1
Are women able to work in the same industries as men?	Yes	1
Are women able to perform the same tasks at work as men?	Yes	1
Are the ages at which men and women can retire with full pension benefits equal?	Yes	1
Are the ages at which men and women can retire with partial pension benefits equal?	Yes	1
Is the mandatory retirement age for men and women equal?	N/A	..

Question	Answer	Source
Does the law mandate paid or unpaid maternity leave?	Yes	Employment Act, Sec. 17
Does the law mandate paid or unpaid paternity leave?	Yes	Employment Act, Sec. 20
Does the law mandate paid or unpaid parental leave?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
What is the length of paid maternity leave?	91	Employment Act, Sec. 18 National Insurance (Benefit and Assistance) Regulations, Sec. 37
What is the length of paid paternity leave?	0	No applicable provisions could be located
What is the length of paid parental leave?	N/A
Who pays maternity leave benefits?	Employer and Government	Employment Act, Sec. 17 National Insurance (Benefit and Assistance) Regulations, Secs. 10 and 39-43
Who pays paternity leave benefits?	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
Who pays parental leave benefits?	N/A
What percentage of wages is paid during maternity leave?	100%	Employment Act, Sec. 17 National Insurance (Benefit and Assistance) Regulations, Sec. 38
What percentage of wages is paid during paternity leave?	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
What percentage of wages is paid during parental leave?	N/A
What is the length of unpaid maternity leave?	0	No applicable provisions could be located
What is the length of unpaid paternity leave?	7	Employment Act, Sec. 20
What is the length of unpaid parental leave?	N/A
How many days of unpaid parental leave must be taken by the mother?	N/A
How many days of unpaid parental leave must be taken by the father?	N/A
How many days of paid parental leave must be taken by the mother?	N/A
How many days of paid parental leave must be taken by the father?	N/A

Question	Answer	Source
Does the law mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in employment?	Yes	Employment Act, Sec. 6
Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in hiring?	Yes	Employment Act, Sec. 6
Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in promotions?	Yes	Employment Act, Sec. 6
Does the law mandate nondiscrimination based on gender in dismissal?	Yes	Employment Act, Sec. 6
Is it prohibited for prospective employers to ask about family status?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Is dismissal of pregnant workers prohibited?	Yes	Employment Act, Sec. 21
Are employers required to provide break time for nursing mothers?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Can parents work flexibly?	No	No applicable provisions could be located

Question	Answer	Source
What is the age at which a man can retire and receive full benefits?	65	National Insurance (Benefit and Assistance) Regulations, Sec. 18
What is the age at which a woman can retire and receive full benefits?	65	National Insurance (Benefit and Assistance) Regulations, Sec. 18
What is the age at which a man can retire and receive partial benefits?	60	National Insurance (Benefit and Assistance) Regulations, Sec. 21
What is the age at which a woman can retire and receive partial benefits?	60	National Insurance (Benefit and Assistance) Regulations, Sec. 21
What is the mandatory retirement age for men?	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
What is the mandatory retirement age for women?	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located

Question	Answer	Source
Can women work the same night hours as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women do the same jobs as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in jobs deemed hazardous in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in jobs deemed morally or socially inappropriate in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in jobs deemed arduous in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in mining in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in factories in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in construction in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in agriculture in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in energy in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in transportation in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in the water sector in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in metalworking in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women engage in jobs requiring lifting weights above a threshold in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Can women work in all other jobs in the same way as men?	Yes	No restrictions could be located

Question	Answer	Score
Are mothers guaranteed an equivalent position after maternity leave?	Yes	1
Does the government support or provide childcare services?	Yes	1
Are childcare payments tax deductible?	No	0
Is primary education free and compulsory?	Yes	1
Are there tax deductions or credits specific to men?	No	1

Question	Answer	Source
Are mothers guaranteed an equivalent position after maternity leave?	Yes
Does the government provide a child allowance to parents?	No	No applicable provisions could be located.
Must employers provide leave to care for sick relatives?	Yes	Employment Act of 2006, Sec. 20

Question	Answer	Source
Does the government provide childcare services?	Yes	Official Website of the Government of the Bahamas
Does the government subsidize childcare services?	No	No applicable provisions could be located.
Is primary education free and compulsory?	Yes	Education Act of 1962, Secs. 22, 23 and 38

Question	Answer	Source
Are there tax deductions or credits specific to men?	No	No applicable provisions could be located.
Are there tax deductions or credits specific to women?	No	No applicable provisions could be located.

Question	Answer	Score
Does a woman’s testimony carry the same evidentiary weight in court as a man’s?	Yes	1
Does the law establish an anti-discrimination commission?	No	0
Does the law mandate legal aid in civil/family matters?	No	0
Is there a small claims court/fast-track procedure?	Yes	1

Question	Answer	Source
Does the law recognize customary courts?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
If yes, can their decisions be appealed to statutory courts?	N/A
Does the law recognize personal law courts?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Are there dedicated and specialized family courts?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Does the law establish an anti-discrimination commission?	No	No applicable provisions could be located

Question	Answer	Source
Is women’s testimony afforded the same weight as men’s?	Yes	No restrictions could be located
Does the law mandate legal aid in civil/family matters?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Does the law mandate legal aid in criminal matters?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Is there a small claims court/fast-track procedure?	Yes	Magistrates Act, Arts. 3 and 18
If yes, what is the maximum amount?	23%

Question	Answer	Source
How many justices are on the constitutional court? The Supreme Court of the Bahamas is not mandated with determining the constitutionality of laws and regulations.	N/A
Of those, how many are women?	N/A
Is the Chief Justice a woman?	N/A

Question	Answer	Score
Do retailers provide information to credit agencies?	N/A	0
Do utility companies provide information to credit agencies?	N/A	0
Is discrimination based on gender prohibited in access to credit?	No	0
Is discrimination based on marital status prohibited in access to credit?	No	0

Question	Answer	Source
What is the minimum loan amount covered in the private credit bureau or public credit registry (%GNI/capita)?	N/A
Do retailers provide information to credit agencies?	N/A
Do retailers provide positive information to credit agencies?	N/A
Do retailers provide negative information to credit agencies?	N/A
Do utility companies provide information to credit agencies?	N/A
Do utility companies provide positive information to credit agencies?	N/A
Do utility companies provide negative information to credit agencies?	N/A
Do microfinance institutions provide information to credit agencies?	N/A
Do microfinance institutions provide positive information to credit agencies?	N/A
Do microfinance institutions provide negative information to credit agencies?	N/A

Question	Answer	Source
Is discrimination based on gender prohibited in access to credit?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Is discrimination based on marital status prohibited in access to credit?	No	No applicable provisions could be located

Question	Answer	Score
Is there legislation specifically addressing domestic violence? If not, are there aggravated penalties for crimes committed against a spouse or family member?	Yes	1
Is there legislation on sexual harassment in employment?	Yes	1
Is there legislation on sexual harassment in education?	No	0
Are there criminal penalties for sexual harassment in employment?	Yes	1
Are there civil remedies for sexual harassment in employment?	No	0

Question	Answer	Source
Is there domestic violence legislation?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act
If not, are there aggravated penalties for crimes against a spouse or family member?	N/A
Does domestic violence legislation cover physical violence?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 2
Does domestic violence legislation cover sexual violence?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 2
Does domestic violence legislation cover emotional violence?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 2
Does domestic violence legislation cover economic violence?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 2
Does domestic violence legislation protect former partners or spouses?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 2
Does domestic violence legislation protect unmarried intimate partners?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 2
Are there criminal penalties for domestic violence?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Is there a specialized court or procedure for cases of domestic violence?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Secs. 3-20
Do protection orders for domestic violence exist?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 3
Do protection orders provide for removal of the perpetrator from the home?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 8(1)(a) and 8(2)(a)(i)
Do protection orders cover prohibition of contact and maintaining a distance from the survivor?	Yes	Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act, Sec. 8(1)(c)-(d) and 8(2)(a)

Question	Answer	Source
Does legislation explicitly criminalize marital rape?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
If not, can a wife file a complaint against her husband for rape or sexual assault?	No	Sexual Offenses Act, Sec. 3
Have provisions exempting perpetrators from facing charges for rape if they marry the victim been removed or never existed in legislation?	Yes	No applicable provisions could be located

Question	Answer	Source
What is the legal age of marriage for boys?	18	Marriage Act, Sec. 20(1)
What is the legal age of marriage for girls?	18	Marriage Act, Sec. 20(1)
Are there any exceptions to the legal age of marriage? B-15; G-15. A person between 15 and 18 years of age can get married with parental or the guardian's consent. The law also provides that the Supreme Court can, for good reasons, grant a dispensation and allow the marriage at age 13.	Yes	Marriage Act, Sec. 20(2) and 50
What is the minimum age of marriage with parental consent for boys?	15	Marriage Act, Sec. 20(2), 50 and Schedule M
What is the minimum age of marriage with parental consent for girls?	15	Marriage Act, Sec. 20(2), 50 and Schedule M
What is the minimum age of marriage with judicial authorization for boys? Boys and girls may be married at age 13 with Supreme Court authorization.	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
What is the minimum age of marriage with judicial authorization for girls? Boys and girls may be married at age 13 with Supreme Court authorization.	N/A	No applicable provisions could be located
Is marriage under the legal age void or voidable? A marriage solemnized between persons either of whom is under the age of fifteen years shall be void.	Yes	Marriage Act, Sec. 50
Are there penalties for authorizing or knowingly entering into child or early marriage? Whoever goes through the ceremony of marriage knowing that the marriage is void is liable to imprisonment for seven years. The same sanction applies to whoever performs or witnesses a marriage knowing that it is void.	Yes	Penal Code, Sec. 485

Question	Answer	Source
Is there legislation specifically addressing sexual harassment?	Yes	Sexual Offences Act, Sec. 26
Is there legislation on sexual harassment in employment?	Yes	Sexual Offences Act, Sec. 26
Is there legislation on sexual harassment in education?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Is there legislation on sexual harassment in public places?	No	No applicable provisions could be located
Are there criminal penalties for sexual harassment in employment?	Yes	Sexual Offences Act, Sec. 26(2)
Are there civil remedies for sexual harassment in employment?	No	No applicable provisions could be located

CONTACT

1818 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20433
USA

wbl@worldbank.org

Indira Chand
Media Inquiries

+1 (202) 458-0434

ichand@worldbank.org

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