The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) sets the maximum hours South African employees can be required to work. These limits exist to protect workers from exploitation and ensure minimum rest periods. Employers who exceed these limits without proper compensation are in breach of the BCEA and can face claims at the CCMA or Labour Court.
The 45-Hour Ordinary Work Week
The BCEA limits ordinary (non-overtime) working hours to 45 hours per week. How these hours are distributed across the week depends on how many days you work:
| Work pattern | Daily ordinary hours | Weekly ordinary hours |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days per week | 9 hours per day | 45 hours |
| 6 days per week | 8 hours per day | 45 hours (capped at 45) |
| Variable schedule | Spread as agreed, max 12 hours/day | 45 hours |
Hours worked above 45 per week are overtime and must be compensated differently. Your employer cannot compel you to accept ordinary-rate pay for overtime hours.
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Open Calculator →Overtime Limits and Rates
Overtime is work performed beyond your ordinary hours. The BCEA sets both a cap on how much overtime can be required and a minimum rate of pay for overtime worked.
| Type of overtime | BCEA limit | Minimum pay rate |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday overtime (above 45 hrs/week) | 10 hours per week, 3 hours per day | 1.5× ordinary hourly rate |
| Sunday work | No separate cap (counts toward weekly OT) | 2× ordinary rate (or 1.5× if Sunday is ordinary working day) |
| Public holiday work | No separate cap | 2× ordinary rate |
Overtime must be agreed in writing — either in your employment contract or in a separate written agreement. You cannot be forced to work overtime without your prior written consent, and you cannot agree to more than 10 hours of overtime per week or 3 hours per day.
Instead of paying 1.5× for overtime, an employer may offer time off in lieu (TOIL) — additional paid leave at a rate of at least 1.5 hours of leave for every overtime hour worked. This must also be agreed in writing.
The BCEA Earnings Threshold — Who It Protects
Not all BCEA protections apply to all employees. Employees earning above the BCEA earnings threshold (R269,600.90 per year from 1 May 2025) can agree to vary or waive certain BCEA provisions. This includes overtime rates, meal breaks, and rest periods. Employees below this threshold have full BCEA protection and cannot waive these rights.
In practice, most salaried professionals in middle-management earn above this threshold and work under contracts that specifically vary overtime provisions. Always check your employment contract carefully.
Meal Breaks and Rest Periods
The BCEA requires specific breaks during and between shifts:
- Meal break: At least 60 minutes after every 5 continuous hours of work. By agreement, this can be reduced to 30 minutes or eliminated if the total daily hours are no more than 6.
- Daily rest: At least 12 continuous hours between the end of one shift and the start of the next.
- Weekly rest: At least 36 continuous hours per week, which must include Sunday unless a shift arrangement agreement provides otherwise.
Meal breaks are unpaid unless your employment contract specifies otherwise. Rest periods are not working time and cannot be counted toward your 45-hour ordinary week.
Night Work
Night work is defined as work performed between 18:00 and 06:00. If you regularly work at night, your employer must:
- Pay you an allowance for working at night, OR reduce your working hours so that the total time worked (including commuting) is not unreasonably long
- Inform you before employing you on night work of the health and safety risks involved
- Provide transport home if public transport is not available at the time your shift ends
Compressed Work Weeks
By written agreement, an employer and employee may compress the work week — working fewer days but longer hours each day. The limits are:
- No more than 12 hours of work per day (including overtime)
- The total weekly hours for a compressed schedule cannot exceed 45 ordinary hours plus any agreed overtime
Compressed work weeks are common in healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing where a 4-day or 4.5-day week is preferred by employees. The arrangement must be reviewed annually and can be cancelled with 4 weeks' notice by either party.
Public Holidays
South Africa has 12 public holidays. If a public holiday falls on a day you would ordinarily work, you are entitled to a full day's pay without working. If you agree to work on a public holiday, you must be paid at least double your ordinary rate for all hours worked on that day. Public holidays falling on a Sunday are observed the following Monday.
Domestic Workers and Farm Workers
Domestic workers are covered by the BCEA and Sectoral Determination 7, which provides specific hourly, overtime, and rest provisions tailored to live-in and live-out domestic workers. Farm workers are similarly covered by Sectoral Determination 13. See our Domestic Worker Rights guide for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours can I legally work per week in South Africa?
Does my employer have to pay me overtime in South Africa?
Can I be forced to work overtime in South Africa?
What is the BCEA earnings threshold and how does it affect my working hours?
What is compressed work week and is it legal in South Africa?
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