Country Guides
Hours of Work in India
Working hours & overtime laws in India
In India, working hours are regulated to protect employees’ health and ensure fair labour practices. The standard workweek is generally 40 hours, with a daily cap of 9 hours, including a one-hour break. Employers must also provide weekly rest and comply with strict rules on overtime, which is both limited in duration and compensated at a premium rate. These requirements are rooted in the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and state-level Shops & Establishments laws.
Standard working hours
The typical workweek in India is 40 hours, with a maximum of 9 hours per day. Employees are entitled to a one-hour break during the workday, ensuring that total working time remains reasonable and consistent with labour law requirements.
Rest day
Employees are entitled to at least one day of rest each week, usually Sunday, though this can vary depending on industry and state-level Shops & Establishments laws. Employers must ensure that no employee works continuously without a weekly rest day.
Overtime in India
In India, maximum working hours and overtime are strictly regulated to prevent excessive workloads and ensure employee well-being. Overtime rules are guided primarily by the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, along with state-specific Shops & Establishments Acts. These laws collectively define permissible working hours, overtime obligations, rest requirements, and enforcement standards.
While the standard workweek is 40 hours with up to 9 hours per day, employees may occasionally be required to work beyond these limits. When this happens, employers must comply with specific legal requirements regarding overtime pay and maximum overtime limits.
Maximum daily & weekly hours
Employees may not work more than 9 hours in a single day and generally not more than 40 hours per week. These limits are designed to align with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and are reinforced through state-level Shops & Establishments laws.
Overtime pay rate
When employees work beyond the standard daily or weekly hours, employers are required to pay overtime at double the employee’s regular wage. This ensures fair compensation for additional work.
Overtime cap
Overtime is limited by law to 200 hours per year per employee. This restriction is in place to prevent employers from consistently overloading employees with extended hours.
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