Working Hours and Overtime in Algeria

In Algeria, your company must comply with working hour and overtime laws – including daily limits, overtime thresholds, and rest requirements – to stay compliant and build a strong employee experience.

As regulations continue to evolve toward 2026, you should expect closer scrutiny of working-time records, stronger enforcement of rest and overtime rules, and potential updates through collective agreements in key sectors. Proactive compliance – including clear policies, accurate timekeeping, and regular audits of schedules and payroll – will help you avoid disputes, support employee well-being, and demonstrate good faith to labour authorities.

• Standard Working Hours
• Overtime Thresholds
• Overtime Pay Rates
• Daily And Weekly Rest Requirements
• Night Work Restrictions
• Penalties For Non-Compliance

What Are The Standard Working Hours In Algeria?

An employee whose age is 17 or younger has a maximum of 7 hours per day and 40 hours per week. An employee whose age is 18 or older is allowed to work 40 hours per week. A minimum meal interval of 30 minutes must be observed by employees who work more than 6 hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 8:00 to 16:30.

Maximum Working Hours In Algeria

Under Algerian labour law, the statutory full-time working schedule is based on 40 hours per week, usually spread over 5 days at 8 hours per day. You should structure work so that daily hours do not normally exceed 8, and any work beyond this threshold is treated as overtime and subject to specific rules and premiums. Daily and weekly limits are designed to protect employee health and safety, so you should avoid systematically scheduling staff at the legal maximum and instead plan predictable, stable rosters.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Continuous Process Industries (Such As Energy And Petrochemicals)
• Healthcare And Emergency Services
• Hospitality, Tourism, And Catering
• Transport, Ports, And Logistics Operations
• Agriculture And Seasonal Harvest Campaigns

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managers and employees in positions of trust may have broader flexibility in their schedules, but they are still covered by core health and safety protections. In practice, you may agree to more flexible working-time arrangements for executives and key specialists, provided that their overall workload remains reasonable, they receive appropriate compensation, and they benefit from daily and weekly rest. You should clearly define any such arrangements in the employment contract or company policies, including expectations around availability, travel, and after-hours work.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Algeria

Full-time employment in Algeria is generally based on 40 hours per week. Most employers implement this as 8 hours per day over 5 days, with Friday commonly treated as a weekly rest day in many sectors. When designing work schedules, you should ensure that the total weekly hours, including any overtime, remain within legal limits and that employees receive the required breaks and rest periods. Part-time arrangements must be pro-rated against this 40-hour benchmark, with clear documentation of agreed hours and entitlements.

Overtime Regulations In Algeria

What Counts As Overtime In Algeria?

Overtime in Algeria is generally any working time performed beyond the statutory 40-hour workweek or beyond the normal daily schedule set in the employment contract or internal regulations. You should treat additional hours requested by the company, whether before or after the regular shift or on weekly rest days and public holidays, as overtime. Overtime must be exceptional, justified by business needs, and properly recorded through timesheets or electronic systems so that you can demonstrate compliance in the event of an inspection.

Maximum Overtime In Algeria

Algerian rules limit the use of overtime to prevent excessive working hours. While specific caps can vary by sectoral agreement, overtime is typically restricted to a set number of hours per year and must not result in employees regularly exceeding safe daily or weekly limits. You should consult applicable collective agreements and ensure that overtime remains occasional, is authorised in advance by management, and does not undermine required daily and weekly rest periods. Systematic reliance on overtime can be viewed negatively by labour authorities and may trigger scrutiny.

Overtime Payout Rates In Algeria

Overtime hours must be compensated at enhanced rates above the employee’s normal hourly wage. In many Algerian sectors, work performed beyond the standard 40-hour week attracts a percentage premium, with higher rates often applied for night work, work on weekly rest days, and work on public holidays. You should clearly define overtime rates in employment contracts or internal regulations, ensure that payroll systems correctly calculate premiums, and provide transparent payslips that distinguish base hours from overtime hours and related supplements. Where collective agreements set higher premiums than the statutory minimum, you must apply the more favourable terms for employees.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Algeria

In Algeria, employees typically work around 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and rest periods are designed to protect their health within this framework. You must provide meal and rest breaks during the working day, daily rest between shifts, and weekly rest days so that total working time, including any overtime, does not compromise employee safety or well-being. These rest entitlements apply alongside the standard working hours and must be integrated into your scheduling and timekeeping practices.

• Meal Break Requirements
• Daily Rest
• Weekly Rest
• Minors
• Employer Duties