Overtime in South Africa is governed by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). This article explains the limits, pay rates, and time-off-in-lieu options that apply.
Standard working hours
The standard maximum working hours in South Africa are 45 hours per week.
Overtime limits
Overtime is capped at 10 hours per week.
Overtime must be agreed in advance — it cannot be worked without prior approval.
Overtime pay rates
When overtime is worked | Pay rate |
Regular overtime (weekdays) | 150% of the employee’s hourly rate |
Sundays or public holidays | 200% of the employee’s hourly rate |
Time off in lieu (TOIL)
Instead of receiving overtime pay, an employee may agree to take time off in lieu. Two options apply:
1.5 hours off for each hour of overtime worked, OR
100% of normal pay plus 0.5 hours off for each overtime hour worked
Earnings threshold
The BCEA overtime provisions — including the right to overtime pay and time-off-in-lieu — do not apply to employees whose annual earnings exceed the statutory earnings threshold. As of August 2026, this threshold is approximately R254,000 per year. Employees earning above this amount are excluded from these overtime protections.
If you have questions about whether overtime applies to your specific situation, please contact Remote People support at support@remotepeople.com.