Hours of Work in South Africa

Standard Hours 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.

Maximum Working Hours & Overtime Laws in South Africa

While no statutory maximum hours are prescribed for employees over the Earnings Threshold, practical limits should align with health and safety regulations, typically not exceeding 12 hours per day.

Overtime compensation

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

Break rights

• 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.

Sunday work and public holidays

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 workers

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.

Time tracking obligations in South Africa

There is no legal requirement for employers to track working hours for employees earning above the Earnings Threshold. However, for compliance and management purposes, employers may maintain records of hours worked.