29 CFR § 1606.4 - The bona fide occupational qualification exception.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t29/s1606.4"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "29 CFR § 1606.4 - The bona fide occupational qualification exception."
title_number: 29
title_name: "Labor"
section_number: "1606.4"
section_name: "The bona fide occupational qualification exception."
chapter_name: "EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION"
part_number: "1606"
part_name: "GUIDELINES ON DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF NATIONAL ORIGIN"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000e"
regulatory_source: "45 FR 85635, Dec. 29, 1980, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1606"
---


# 1606.4 The bona fide occupational qualification exception.

The exception stated in section 703(e) of title VII, that national origin may be a bona fide occupational qualification, shall be strictly construed.