Page 19 - DRG HR HANDBOOK- Nikita Pillay
P. 19
WORKING HOURS
n South Africa, the Basic Conditions of Employment overtime unless this is in accordance with
Act (BCEA) stipulates various basic conditions for an agreement.
I safe and fair employment. One of the most important In cases where there is an agreement, overtime
aspects of which many employees and employers may may not exceed three hours in a single day or ten
not be fully aware is the regulation on working hours. hours in a week.
Chapter 2 and Section 6 of the BCEA regulate working Overtime should be paid at 1.5 x rate per hour
time, including all hours related to Sunday Work, Public worked.
Holidays, and Overtime. It can be negotiated that time off be provided in lieu
of the overtime hours worked.
WORKING HOURS
SUNDAY WORK
Section 9 of the BCEA stipulates that an employee may
not be required or allowed to work more than: If an employee sometimes works on a Sunday,
the employee must get double pay.
45 hours per week.
If an employee normally works on a Sunday, then
nine hours in a day (excluding lunch break) in a
the employee must be paid one-and-a-half (1.5)
working week of five days or less.
times the normal wage.
eight hours in a day (excluding lunch break) in a
It can be negotiated that time off be provided in lieu
working week or more than five days a week.
of the Sunday hours worked.
MEAL INTERVALS
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
According to section 14 of the BCEA, employees
Employees must be paid if they work on a public
who work for more than five continuous hours,
holiday and only allowed to work if agreed to.
must have a meal break of 60 minutes after
5 hours’ work. Employees must be paid double the normal wage
for the day.
A written agreement may lower this to 30 minutes
and do away with the meal break if you work less It can be negotiated that time off be provided in lieu
than 6 hours a day. of the Public Holiday hours worked.
Employees must have a daily rest period of NIGHT WORK
12 continuous hours and a weekly rest period of
If an employee work between 18:00 and 06:00
36 continuous hours.
he / she must get extra pay (allowance) or be
OVERTIME able to work fewer hours for the same amount
of money.
According to section 10 of the BCEA, employers
may not require or permit employees to work Transport must be available to the workers. 19 19
