Labour law

How many hours a week is normal working time?

Huquqchi legal team

Normal working time must not exceed 40 hours a week, on a five-day week and on a six-day week alike. Work beyond the time set for the employee counts as overtime. Overtime is paid at a higher rate, or, if the employee wishes, is compensated with extra rest time.

The short answer

Under article 182 of the Labour Code, normal working time for an employee must not exceed forty hours a week, on a five-day or a six-day working week.

Reduced working time

Reduced working time is set for some categories of employee:

Reduced working time counts as full working time, and the wage is not cut for it.

Part-time working

A part-time day or a part-time week is set by agreement between the employee and the employer. The wage is then paid in proportion to the time worked.

Overtime

Under article 189 of the Labour Code, work beyond the working time set for the employee counts as overtime. The law limits overtime: except in the exceptional cases the law names, the written consent of the employee is needed. Under article 190, overtime must not exceed four hours over two days in a row. Under article 262, the first two hours in a day are paid at not less than one and a half times the rate, and the later hours at not less than twice the rate. If the employee wishes, extra rest time may be granted instead of the higher pay.

Legal sources

Legal basisLabour Code, article 182 Legal basisLabour Code, article 189 Legal basisLabour Code, article 262

This article gives legal information, not legal advice. For your own situation, consult a qualified lawyer.