Work Hours Calculator South Africa
Enter your weekly schedule and instantly see ordinary vs overtime hours, BCEA compliance status and total pay. Covers BCEA 45-hour week, 9/8-hour daily limits and 10-hour overtime cap.
⏱ Weekly Work Schedule
| Day | Hours | Status |
|---|
BCEA Work Hours in South Africa — The Full Rules
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) sets the national floor for working hours in South Africa. Understanding these rules matters for both employees (to know their rights) and employers (to avoid costly disputes and CCMA referrals). The key sections are Section 9 (ordinary hours) and Section 10 (overtime).
Section 9 — Ordinary Hours of Work
An employee may not be required to work more than 45 ordinary hours per week. The daily limit depends on the work pattern:
5-day week → Max 9 hours per day × 5 days = 45 hours/week
6-day week → Max 8 hours per day × 5 days + max 5 hours Saturday
(cannot exceed 45 hours total)
/* Daily total cap (ordinary + overtime combined) */
Absolute max → 12 hours in any single day (Section 10)
Section 10 — Overtime
Overtime is any time worked beyond the Section 9 limits. Key rules:
- Maximum overtime: 3 hours per day and 10 hours per week
- Overtime rate: 1.5 times the normal rate
- Overtime requires written or verbal agreement — it cannot be unilaterally imposed
- By written agreement, time off instead of overtime pay may be given at the same 1.5× ratio
- Total daily maximum: 12 hours (ordinary + overtime combined)
Section 16 — Sunday Work
Work performed on a Sunday is paid at double (2×) the normal rate. If Sunday is part of the employee's ordinary working week, the first Sunday worked in a 4-week cycle may be at ordinary time — employers should address this specifically in employment contracts. Where an employee works on a Sunday and it is not part of their ordinary work schedule, the 2× rate applies without exception.
Section 18 — Public Holidays
Employees may not be required to work on a public holiday unless there is a written agreement. If required to work, they must be paid at double (2×) the normal rate. Alternatively, by agreement, the employee may take a paid day off in lieu.
The Full BCEA Limits Summary
| BCEA Provision | Section | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours per week | Section 9 | 45 hours |
| Ordinary hours per day (5-day week) | Section 9 | 9 hours |
| Ordinary hours per day (6-day week) | Section 9 | 8 hours |
| Overtime per week | Section 10 | 10 hours |
| Overtime per day | Section 10 | 3 hours |
| Maximum total hours per day | Section 10 | 12 hours |
| Overtime rate (weekdays) | Section 10 | 1.5× normal rate |
| Sunday rate | Section 16 | 2× normal rate |
| Public holiday rate | Section 18 | 2× normal rate |
| Meal break (after 5 consecutive hours) | Section 14 | 60 min (reducible to 30 min) |
| Rest period between shifts | Section 15 | 12 consecutive hours |
| Weekly rest period | Section 16 | 36 consecutive hours |
| BCEA earnings threshold | Section 6 | R269,600.90/year (May 2026) |
Compressed Working Week — What BCEA Section 11 Allows
By written agreement, an employer and employee can arrange a compressed working week under Section 11. This allows working up to 12 ordinary hours per day across 4 or 5 days per week, provided the total does not exceed 45 ordinary hours per week. Common arrangements include four 10-hour days, giving a 3-day weekend.
The compressed working week agreement must be in writing, signed by the employee, and reviewed every 2 months. It does not override the 45-hour weekly maximum — it only allows the daily ordinary limit to extend to 12 hours. Hours above 45 in the week remain overtime.
Who the BCEA Working Time Provisions Apply To
BCEA Sections 9–17 (the working time provisions) apply to employees earning below the earnings threshold of R269,600.90 per year (R22,466.74 per month) as of 1 May 2026. This threshold is reviewed annually.
Employees earning above the threshold have their working hours governed by their employment contract rather than the BCEA provisions. However, many SA employers voluntarily apply BCEA standards to all staff. If you earn above the threshold, check your employment contract — particularly for overtime rates and Sunday work clauses.
Step-by-Step Overtime Calculation Example
Employee works 5 days per week. Hourly rate R120. Schedule: Mon 9h, Tue 9h, Wed 11h, Thu 9h, Fri 10h.
| Day | Hours Worked | Ordinary Hours | Daily Overtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9h | 9h | 0h |
| Tuesday | 9h | 9h | 0h |
| Wednesday | 11h | 9h | 2h (over 9h daily limit) |
| Thursday | 9h | 9h | 0h |
| Friday | 10h | 7h* | 3h |
| Total | 48h | 45h | 3h daily OT |
* Friday: only 7h ordinary to stay within the 45-hour weekly total (9+9+9+9+9=45), so the remaining 3h of Friday become daily overtime.
| Pay Component | Hours | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary pay | 45h | R120 × 1.0 | R 5,400 |
| Overtime pay | 3h | R120 × 1.5 | R 540 |
| Total weekly pay | 48h | R 5,940 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours per week can I legally work in South Africa?
Under the BCEA, the maximum is 45 ordinary hours plus 10 overtime hours per week, giving a total maximum of 55 hours. The ordinary hours cap is 9 hours per day for a 5-day week and 8 hours per day for a 6-day week. The absolute daily maximum (including overtime) is 12 hours in any single day. These limits apply to employees earning below R269,600.90/year — above this threshold, your contract governs your hours.
Can my employer force me to work overtime?
No. Under BCEA Section 10, overtime may only be worked by agreement between employer and employee. An employer cannot unilaterally require overtime. However, most employment contracts contain an overtime clause where the employee pre-agrees to work reasonable overtime — in which case you are technically obligated once you sign the contract. If your contract has such a clause, the employer can require overtime within the BCEA limits (10 hours/week, 3 hours/day, 1.5× rate).
What is the daily hours limit for a 6-day work week?
When an employee works more than 5 days in a week (for example, including Saturday), the daily ordinary hours limit drops from 9 hours to 8 hours per day. This applies to all days in that week — not just the extra day. The weekly total remains capped at 45 ordinary hours regardless of how many days are worked. A 6-day worker doing 8h × 5 days + 5h on Saturday = 45h ordinary is within the limit.
How does night shift work affect my pay under BCEA?
Under BCEA Section 17, night work is defined as work performed between 18:00 and 06:00. If you regularly work at night, your employer must pay you a night work allowance or reduce your working hours. The specific allowance is not defined in the BCEA — it is subject to sectoral determination or collective agreement in your industry. Transport between work and home must also be provided or paid for night workers if public transport is unavailable or inadequate. Use our Overtime Calculator for standard overtime pay calculations.
What must my employer provide during my shift for meal breaks?
Under BCEA Section 14, an employer must give an employee a meal interval of at least 1 continuous hour after every 5 hours of continuous work. This can be reduced to 30 minutes by written agreement. If the employee works fewer than 6 hours in total, the meal break may be waived by agreement. The meal break is unpaid unless the employment contract or sectoral determination specifies otherwise. An employee who is required to remain at the workplace or on call during the meal break is entitled to be paid for that period.