Working Hours and Overtime in Bolivia

In Bolivia, 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 you plan workforce schedules through 2026, you should align internal policies with Bolivian labor standards on maximum daily and weekly hours, overtime authorization, and premium pay for additional work, night work, and work on rest days or holidays. Regulators are expected to continue focusing on enforcement of timekeeping, accurate payroll calculations, and protection of vulnerable groups such as minors and night workers, so robust documentation, clear contracts, and transparent communication with employees will be essential to mitigate legal and financial risks.

• 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 Bolivia?

An employee whose age is 18 or younger has a maximum of 6 hours per day and 36 hours per week. An employee whose age is 19 or older is allowed to work 48 hours per week. A minimum meal interval of 60 minutes must be observed by employees who work more than 5 consecutive hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 8:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Bolivia

Under Bolivian labor law, the general limit for adult employees is 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week for men, and 40 hours per week for women, unless a more favorable contractual or collective agreement applies. You should structure schedules so that employees do not exceed these limits on a regular basis, and you must keep accurate time records to demonstrate compliance. Any work performed beyond the daily or weekly limits is treated as overtime and must be compensated at the applicable premium rate.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Continuous Process Industries – Such As Mining And Manufacturing
• Hospitality, Tourism, And Restaurants With Extended Service Hours
• Healthcare Services And Emergency Response Operations
• Transportation, Logistics, And Shift-Based Operations
• Agriculture And Seasonal Harvest Activities

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managerial and trusted employees in Bolivia may have broader flexibility in their schedules, and in practice they often work beyond standard daily or weekly limits without the same overtime treatment as rank-and-file staff. However, you should not assume that a job title alone makes an employee exempt from working-time protections. To reduce risk, clearly define managerial responsibilities, decision-making authority, and salary structure in the employment contract, and ensure that any exemption from overtime is consistent with Bolivian labor law and collective agreements. When in doubt, treat additional hours as overtime and compensate accordingly.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Bolivia

Full-time employment in Bolivia is generally based on the statutory maximum of 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week for men, and 40 hours per week for women, spread over no more than 6 days. Many employers adopt a 5-day workweek with slightly longer daily hours to remain within the weekly cap while offering two consecutive rest days. When designing full-time roles, you should specify the normal daily and weekly hours, the distribution of those hours across the week, and how any additional hours will be authorized and compensated.

Overtime Regulations In Bolivia

What Counts As Overtime In Bolivia?

In Bolivia, overtime is generally any time worked beyond the statutory or contractually agreed daily or weekly limits – typically more than 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week for men, and more than 40 hours per week for women. Overtime must be exceptional, justified by business needs, and authorized in advance by the employer. You should implement a clear written policy that defines when overtime is permitted, how it is requested and approved, and how it is recorded, to ensure transparency and compliance.

Maximum Overtime In Bolivia

Bolivian law restricts the amount of overtime that can be worked to protect employee health and safety. As a general guideline, overtime should not exceed 2 hours per day and should remain occasional rather than systematic. You should monitor overtime levels across teams, ensure that employees are not pressured to work excessive hours, and provide alternative staffing solutions – such as shift rotation or temporary staff – when demand is consistently high. For certain sectors or special circumstances, additional limits or authorizations may apply, so you should consult local legal counsel or the labor authority before planning extended overtime arrangements.

Overtime Payout Rates In Bolivia

Overtime in Bolivia must be paid at premium rates above the employee’s regular hourly wage. As a baseline, hours worked beyond the normal schedule are typically paid at 2 times the regular rate, with higher multipliers often applied for night work, work performed on weekly rest days, and work on public holidays. You should calculate the regular hourly rate by dividing the monthly salary by the legally recognized number of working hours, then apply the appropriate multiplier to each overtime hour. Clearly communicate these rates in employment contracts and payslips, and maintain detailed records of hours worked and amounts paid to demonstrate compliance in the event of an inspection or dispute.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Bolivia

Employees in Bolivia typically work up to 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week for men, and 40 hours per week for women, and within these limits you must organize work so that employees receive adequate rest periods and breaks. This includes providing a minimum uninterrupted meal break during the working day, ensuring sufficient daily rest between shifts, and guaranteeing weekly rest days so that total working time and overtime do not compromise employee health, safety, or productivity.

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