Calculate overtime pay according to BCEA regulations. Weekday overtime at 1.5x, Sundays and public holidays at 2x your normal rate.
Calculate overtime pay according to BCEA regulations
BCEA maximum is 45 hours/week for most workers
Paid at 1.5x normal rate (BCEA requirement)
Paid at 2x normal rate (or 1.5x if normally work Sundays)
Paid at 2x normal rate
Maximum 45 ordinary hours per week. Maximum 10 hours overtime per week. Agreement must be in writing for overtime.
Minimum 1.5x normal rate for weekday overtime. Can negotiate higher rates in employment contract or bargaining council agreement.
Sunday work: 2x rate (or 1.5x if you normally work Sundays). Public holidays: 2x rate. Additional day off may be granted.
Note: BCEA overtime rules don't apply to employees earning above R254,371.67 per year (2025 threshold), senior managers, sales staff working mainly outside employer's premises, or those covered by sectoral determinations.
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) sets minimum standards for overtime pay in South Africa. Employers must pay at least 1.5x the normal wage for overtime worked.
Ordinary working hours maximum per week
Maximum overtime hours per week
Minimum overtime rate for weekdays
Double pay for Sundays and public holidays
Overtime must be by agreement. Your employer cannot force you to work overtime without consent. The agreement should be in writing and may not exceed 10 hours per week unless covered by a collective agreement.
If your employer refuses to pay overtime correctly, contact the Department of Employment and Labour or CCMA. Keep records of hours worked as evidence.