Working Hours in Nepal | Labour Law

Nepalese labour law regimes require legislative working time limits. Originally, it was intended to enforce hour limits to ensure a safe and healthy working environment and sufficient rest or leisure time between shifts. 

However, over the past century, hour limits have become increasingly seen as a way to advance the additional policy objectives of allowing workers to balance their paid work with their family responsibilities and other aspects of their lives, promoting productivity and reducing unemployment. In our country, the 2074 new Labour Act prescribes the daily and weekly basis of working hours, with the overtime hours and their payment.

Daily & Weekly Working Hours 

Workers shall not be employed to work more than 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week by an employer.  

Interval for Refreshment & Rest

Worker or employee shall not be deployed in work for more than 5 hours continuously without providing a interval of 30 minutes for tiffin for those enterprise where work can be interrupted. However, intervals shall be provided on rotation basis for those enterprise where work cannot be interrupted. 

Such interval of half an hour shall be deemed to have been included within the daily working hours.

Starting & finishing time of work

The starting and finishing time of work shall be determined by the employer. There is no such provision to restrict, employer to fix the time of starting and finishing the work timing which shall be specified and followed according to the employment contract. It shall be determined by the employer, if not specified in contract.

No compulsion for Overtime

No worker shall be compelled to work overtime by the employer. However, if non-completion of work affect life, security or health of any person or employer might incur heavy loss, labor could be engaged for overtime work.

Timing of Overtime

Where an employer requires a worker to work overtime, such worker may be made to work not exceeding 4 hours a day and 24 hours a week. The work performed by any worker without any arrangement for substitute leave shall be deemed to be overtime work. Overtime work can be set-off with substitute leave provided by the employer. 

Remuneration of Overtime 

The worker shall be paid remuneration at a rate of 1.5 times of the basic salary that the worker receives during regular hours of work if the worker works overtime. Benefits to managerial level workers shall be as determined by a collective agreement; or as mentioned in the employment contract

Arrangement for Transportation to female workers

The employer shall make an arrangement for transportation to come and go from the workplace, for women workers who start or finish their work after the setting of the sun or before the sun rise.