Hours of Work in South Africa

• Normal working hours: The standard working hours in South Africa are 08h00 to 16h00 or 09h00 to 17h00.
• Weekly hours: Standard work hours typically include 40-45 hours per week, spread over 5 days.

For employees earning above the Earnings Threshold, there is no statutory requirement to pay overtime unless included in the company’s policies and procedures.

• Rest periods: Only employees earning below the Earnings Threshold are entitled to a daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours and a weekly rest period of at least 36 consecutive hours.
• Meal breaks: Only employees earning below the Earnings Threshold are entitled to a meal break of at least one continuous hour after five hours of work.

Only employees earning below the Earnings Threshold are entitled to double pay for work on Sundays and public holidays (if it is not an ordinary day) or 1.5 times the normal rate if the employee normally works on Sundays and public holidays.

Night work is defined as work performed after 18:00 and before 06:00. Only employees earning below the Earnings Threshold are entitled to night work. Such employees must be compensated with an additional allowance or a reduction in working hours and must be provided with transportation between their residence and workplace at the start and end of the shift.