Overtime laws in Africa: a guide across 46+ African countries

Country

Normal working hours

Overtime hours allowed

Compensation

Other information

Algeria

Maximum 40 hours

Not more than 20% of the maximum working hours (i.e. 8 hours)

Employees are paid 150% of their regular

hourly wage for each hour (or part of an hour

worked during overtime).

Angola

·       Maximum 2 hours per normal day of work

·       40 hours per month of work

·       200 annual hours

Each hour of overtime work is paid with an additional 50% of the normal working hours up to 30 hours per month.

If the number of overtime hours exceed 30 hours is paid with an additional 75%.

Among other things, the employer must keep a register of overtime work where each day are recorded the beginning, the term and the motive of the overtime work provided by each worker.

Benin

40 hours/a week (8 hours/a day)

Overtime is paid at 112% of the normal hourly rate for 41st to the 48th hour per week, and at 135% of the normal hourly rate beyond the

48th hour per week

Botswana

The workweek is limited to 48 hours,

with no more than 9 hours

per day for a 5-day week,

or 8 hours per day for

a 6-day week.

Employees are limited to 14 hours of overtime

per week.

Employees are limited

eligible to 150% their

normal hourly rate

Burkina Faso

The standard workweek is

40 hours (8 hours/day)

Overtime is calculated as follows:

15% of compensation for each of the first 8

hours worked after the 40th hour, or

equivalent time;

35% of compensation for each hour

worked after the 48th hour, or equivalent

time;

50% of compensation for each hour

worked during the night in ordinary days;

60% of compensation for each hour

worked on Sundays or Holidays;

120% of compensation for each hour

worked during

Burundi

40 hours/a week

If urgent or exceptional tasks arise due to

increased work demands, the employer is

permitted to extend working hours up to a

maximum of 15 hours per week or 150 hours

per year.

For each hour worked beyond the

legal weekly working time or its equivalent,

overtime compensation is granted as follows:

• 35% for the initial two hours.

60% for subsequent hours.

Cape Verde

The regular working time cannot exceed 8 hours per day and 44 hours per week

Among other things, a worker cannot perform more than 2 hours of overtime per day, and no more than 160 hours of overtime per year. If the worker consents in writing, the annual limit can be increased to 300 hours per year.

Workers are entitled to a pay premium at the rate of 20-35% of the ordinary wage

Cameroon

Usually 40 hours a week.

The first 8 hours – 120% of the hourly salary

The next 8 hours – 130%

Next 4 hours – up to 20 hours per week – 140%

On Sundays – 150%

Public holidays – 200

Central African Republic

Not more than 40 hours a week for non-agricultural workers. 48 hours a week for workers in the agricultural sector.  

For workers in the agricultural sector, there should be a 20% increase in pay for hours worked from the 49th to the 56th hour, and 40% for hours worked beyond the 56th hour.

For workers in non-agricultural sectors, overtime pay should be paid as such:

20% increase for hours worked beyond the 40th hour, 40% increase for hours worked beyond the 48th hour, 60% increase for hours worked at night.

Chad

48 hours/a week. A rest day per week is mandatory

(generally on Sundays)

Overtime is paid at 10% of standard hourly

pay.

Comoros

Not more than 40 hours a week, and not more than 8 hours a day. Not more than 45 hours a week for workers in the agricultural sector.

Hours worked in excess of the legal working hours give rise to an increase in pay set by order of the Minister of Labour after consulting the Conseil Consultatif du Travail.

Congo Brazzaville

40 hours/a week

(8 hours/a day)

30% increase for the first 6 hours after the

legal working time limit; 60% increase for

subsequent hours; 100% increase for overtime

work performed on weekly rest day.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Cannot exceed 45 hours

per week and 9 hours per day.

Any work done beyond 45 hours/a week is

considered overtime. Overtime in the

Democratic Republic of Congo is calculated

as followed:

30% for each of the first six hours worked

beyond the legal weekly duration or the

duration considered equivalent.

60% for each of the subsequent hours.

100% for each of the overtime hours worked

during weekly rest days.

Djibouti

48 hours/a week.

Upon notifying both employees and the labor

inspector, the employer has the authority to

request overtime work from employees, with

a maximum limit of 5 hours per week per

worker.

Overtime compensation is determined by the

terms outlined in a collective agreement.

Egypt

Maximum of 48 hours/week

The legal maximum working hours are

eight hours a day

The minimum overtime

premiums are 35% of normal pay for

overtime worked during daylight, 70% for that worked at night, and 100% on rest days and 200% on

official holidays

Equatorial Guinea

The duration of the legal working week in Equatorial Guinea is 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week.

Overtime working hours shall be paid with a surcharge of 25% of the salary corresponding to the ordinary time, in any daytime period, and 50% of this regular 35 salary corresponding to any night time period, or in the case of an extension of mixed working time during a night time period.

Overtime working hours at night time is forbidden, except in specific cases. Overtime working hours shall be recorded daily and will be totalled weekly

Eritrea

Regular hours of work may not exceed eight hours a day and forty-eight hours a week.

An employee who works overtime between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. shall be paid at the rate of 1.25 multiplied by the regular hourly rate. For overtime work from 10 p.m. up to 6 a.m., he shall be paid at the rate of 1.5 multiplied by the regular hourly rate.

An employee who works overtime on weekly rest clay shall be paid twice the regular hourly rate.

An employee who works overtime on public holidays shall be paid at the rate 2.25 multiplied by the regular hourly rate.

Payment for overtime work shall be effected together with the payment of wages.

Eswatini

40 hours a week

Overtime is paid at an additional 50%. Work on rest days is paid at an additional 100%.

Ethiopia

A regular workday is 8 hours and

a regular workweek is 48 hours.

The overtime rates apply as such:

150% of the regular hourly rate for

overtime work between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

175% of the regular hourly rate for

overtime work between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

200% of the regular hourly rate for work

on a weekly rest day.

250% of the regular hourly rate for work

on a public holiday.

Gabon

8 hours a day

(40 hours a week).

A maximum of 20 hours of overtime per week

in cases of exceptional, urgent or seasonal

work due to extraordinary overload of work or

to the necessity of maintaining/increasing

production level, or lack of staff

Gambia

The official working hours are as follows:

Monday through Thursday, from 08:00 to

16:00, and on Fridays, from 08:00 to 12:30,

totalling 36.5 hours per week

Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the regular

hourly rate for weekday and Saturday

overtime. 2 times the hourly rate is paid on

Sundays and public holidays.

Ghana

Maximum of 40 hours/week

All hours over 40 hours per week is deemed

Over Time (OT).

OT rates vary between weekdays and

weekends. OT rates also vary between

industries, e.g. rates are higher in mining, oil

and gas than they are in FMCG.

Rates vary based on shifts types and days

within the shifts.

Guinea Bissau

Not more than 45 hours a week.

Not more than 120 hours per worker per year.

Overtime must be paid at the following minimum rates:

a) 50% of normal pay for the first hour.

b) 75% of normal pay for the following hours or fractions of hours.

Guinea Conakry

Usually 40 hours a week.

100 hours per worker per year.

30% for the first 4 hours and 60% thereafter.

Ivory Coast

Maximum of 40 hours/week

115% of the remuneration for hours worked

between the 41st and the 46th hour;

150% of the remuneration for hours worked

beyond the 46th hour;

175% of the remuneration for hours worked

during the day on a Sunday or a holiday;

200% of the remuneration for hours

worked at night on a Sunday or a holiday.

Kenya

Ranges from 40 to 52 hours/ week

Overtime during normal working days is

1.5 times the salary of the employee and on

nonworking days and public holidays is

2 times the normal pay.

The employer should always compensate

for overtime.

Lesotho

45 hours a week

Workers are paid 125% of their normal wage

for overtime hours.

Liberia

8 hours per day or

48 hours a week.

Overtime is paid at a premium of 150% of

normal wage

Madagascar

40 hours a week/8 hours a day.

Overtime is all work hours above 40hrs/week, overtime is

only applicable for workers.

Overtime pay rate should not be less than 125% the regular rate.

Malawi

Not more than

48 hours a week/8 hours a day

An employee shall for each hour of ordinary

overtime be paid at the hourly rate of not

less 1.5 times his wage for one

hour.

An employee shall for each hour of day-off

overtime be paid at the hourly rate of not

less than 2 times his wage for one hour.

An employee shall for each hour of holiday

overtime be paid at a rate of not less than

2 times the normal hourly rate.

Mauritania

Maximum of 40 hours per week.

The terms and conditions for authorising and remunerating overtime, by day or night on working days, during the weekly rest period or on public holidays, are determined by the collective bargaining agreement or, failing that, by order of the Minister of Labor issued after consultation with the National Council for Labor, Employment and Social Security.

Mauritius

The working day should not

exceed 8 hours, and if the

employee works 6 days in a

week, one of those days should

not exceed 5 hours and the

worker should be compensated

for 8 hours

Overtime becomes applicable if an

employee works beyond 90 hours over a

two-week period and is paid at 1.5 times the

usual hourly rate.

Working on a public holiday or on a Sunday

is also considered as overtime work in

Mauritius.

The rate of pay here is at 2 times the usual

hourly rate.

A worker on a night shift is entitled to an

allowance of 15% of his basic wage in

addition to his normal day’s wage for work

performed during the night shift

Morocco

44 hours a week, or

8 hours a day

Workers in non-agricultural activities receive

a premium of 25% for extra hours worked

between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., 50% for

hours worked between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00

a.m.

Mozambique

40 hours/a week

(8 hours/a day)

Employees can work overtime with a limit of

up to 200 hours per year with pay at a higher

rate

Namibia

8 hours per day or

48 hours a week.

Overtime is paid at a premium of 150% of

normal wage

Niger

40 hours/a week

Overtime work is paid at a premium rate.

It depends on the number of overtime hours

Worked.

Nigeria

Usually, 40 hours a week.

Employees are paid 1.5 times their regular hourly

wage for each hour

(or part of an hour worked during overtime)

Rwanda

Ordinary working hours

are 45 hours/a week

All work exceeding the standard working

hours per week is to be remunerated as

overtime and is regulated by a collective

labour convention/agreement.

São Tomé and Príncipe

The legal workweek is 40 hours with two mandatory days off per week.

10% of the total hours that can  normally be  worked per week  and per year.

Overtime pay is compulsory for those working more than 40 hours

Senegal

In general, Senegal’s work week

is 40 hours

Overtime work can be carried out up to 10

hours per week and up to 100 hours per

year, to maintain or increase

production, if this has been

authorised by the labour inspection.

In general, overtime is to be remunerated by

an increase of 10% for the performance of in

between 41 and 48 hours per week, and by

an increase of 35% for hours exceeding 48

per week.

Night Hours – Night work (between 10 p.m.

and 5 a.m.) is paid at 150% of the

employee’s basic hourly rate or 200% for

night work on Sundays or holidays. Night

work (between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.) is paid at

150% of the employee’s basic hourly rate or

200% for night work on Sundays or holidays.

Weekends or public holidays – The rate for

work during the day on a weekend or

holiday is 150% of the employee’s standard

hourly rate

Seychelles

Not more than 60 hours per week or 12 hours per day, whichever is the less.

Up to 60 additional hours per month or an aggregate of 15 hours per day

overtime is payable in the case of a worker, other than a shift worker or a watchman, at the rate of—

(i)1½ hours’ pay for 1 hour’s work on a week-day;

(ii)2 hours’ pay for 1 hour’s work on a holiday;

(b) In the case of a shift-worker, at the rate of—

(i) 1½ hours’ pay for 1 hour’s work on a week-day or Sunday;

(ii) 3 hours’ pay for 1 hour’s work on a public holiday

A worker, other than a shift-worker or a watchman, who works on a holiday is entitled to double-pay for that day, or to an alternative holiday, at the option of the employer.

A shift-worker or watchman who works on a public holiday is entitled to double pay for that day, or to an alternative holiday, at the option of the employer.

Sierra Leone

40 hours a week.

Overtime is paid at an additional 50%. Work on rest days is paid at an additional

 100%.

South Africa

Ranges from 35 to 40 hours/ week

Overtime pay is 1.5 times the normal hourly wage or paid time off.

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act

applies to all employers and workers except specific groups.

Exemptions from the Act include members of certain agencies and unpaid charity

volunteers

South Sudan

Not more than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.

An employer shall pay an employee for overtime on the date of the payment of wages and not later than a month from the date on which the overtime work was performed, at the rate of at least: 1.5 times an employee’s regular hourly rate, if the overtime work was performed on an ordinary working day; and 2 times an employee’s regular hourly rate, if the overtime work was performed on a weekly holiday.

Sudan

Official hours of work are 48 hours per week or 8 hours per day broken by a paid period of rest of not less than half an hour per day for eating or resting

Not more than 4 hours per day or 12 hours per week

During the normal working days, an employee shall be entitled to receive 1.5 times the equivalent of his wage for each hour of overtime. During official holidays, he shall be entitled to receive the equivalent of his wage of two hours for each hour of overtime work.

Tanzania

8 hours/a day.

(not more than 45 hours/a week)

Overtime is compensated at 150% of the

salary for anything over 48 hours or 200% for

working on a designated holiday or rest day.

Togo

40 hours per week

Overtime pay rates as per the

Interprofessional Collective Agreement:

120% of hourly wage for the first 8 hours

during the day (41 to 48 hours).

140% of hourly wage for overtime

exceeding 48 hours during the day.

165% of normal pay for work on Sundays

and holidays.

Tunisia

A work week is 5 days and

should not exceed 48 hours.

All overtime work must be compensated

additionally to the base salary

•

for the full-time work of 48 hours per

week: 75%;

for full-time work of less than 48 hours

per week: 25% up to 48 hours and 50%

beyond this period;

for part-time work: 50%

Uganda

Maximum of 48 hours/week

Gazetted working hours are 48 hours

anything above is remunerated at a

minimum of 1.5 hourly rate and if overtime is

on public holiday it is remunerated at a

minimum of twice the normal hourly rate

Zambia

A work week is 5 days and

should not exceed 48 hours.

There are no legal limitations on overtime

hours in Zambia.

However, for overtime work conducted

beyond the regular workweek, a premium of

at least 150% of the standard hourly wage

rate is mandated by law.

Zimbabwe

8.5 hours a day and

44 hours a week

The minimum overtime rate is 150% of the

normal wage rate when workers must

work beyond normal working hours, as

determined by the National Employment

Councils.