Constitution of The BahamasIn briefNo one may be held in slavery or servitude or made to do forced labour, with set exceptions such as court sentences, service duties and emergencies.
No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.
No one may be held in slavery or servitude (being forced to work for or serve another person).
No person shall be required to perform forced labour.
No one may be required to do forced labour.
For the purposes of this Article, "forced labour" does not Protection include-
For the purposes of this Article, "forced labour" does not include:
any labour required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court;
any labour required as a result of the sentence or order of a court;
any labour required of a member of a disciplined force in pursuance of his duties as such or, in the case of a person who has conscientious objections to service in a naval, military or air force, any labour which that person is required by law to perform in place of such service;
any labour required of a member of a disciplined force (a military, police or prison service, as defined in Article 31) as part of that member's duties, or, for a person who has conscientious objections to serving in a naval, military or air force, any labour that the law requires that person to do instead of such service;
labour required of any person while he is lawfully detained which, though not required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court, is reasonably necessary in the interests of hygiene or for the maintenance of the place in which he is detained; or
labour required of a person while lawfully detained which, although not required by the sentence or order of a court, is reasonably necessary for hygiene or for the upkeep of the place where the person is detained; or
any labour required during a period of public emergency (that is to say, a period to which Article 29 of this Constitution applies) or in the event of any other emergency or calamity that threatens the life or well-being of the community, to the extent that the requiring of such labour is reasonably justifiable, in the circumstances of any situation arising or existing during that period or as a result of that other emergency or calamity, for the purpose of dealing with that situation.
any labour required during a period of public emergency (that is, a period to which Article 29 of this Constitution applies), or during any other emergency or calamity that threatens the life or well-being of the community, to the extent that requiring the labour is reasonably justifiable for dealing with any situation that arises or exists during that period or as a result of that other emergency or calamity.