Working Hours and Overtime in Bosnia & Herzegovina

In Bosnia & Herzegovina, 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 needs through 2026, you should expect continued scrutiny from labor inspectorates on accurate timekeeping, proper overtime authorization, and respect for daily and weekly rest. Aligning internal policies with entity-level labor laws, collective agreements, and EU working-time standards will help you avoid disputes, ensure fair compensation, and support employee wellbeing in a tightening regulatory environment.

• 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 Bosnia & Herzegovina?

An employee whose age is 18 or younger has a maximum of 8 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 08:00 to 16:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Bosnia & Herzegovina

In Bosnia & Herzegovina, the statutory full-time schedule is generally 40 hours per week, usually spread over five working days. Daily working time is typically 8 hours, not including the unpaid meal break. Cantonal and entity-level labor laws set these limits, and collective agreements or employment contracts may provide for shorter hours but cannot lawfully exceed the statutory maximums except under regulated overtime. For minors, the daily and weekly limits are stricter, and they may not be employed in overtime or night work.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Continuous Process Manufacturing And Heavy Industry
• Healthcare, Emergency, And Social Care Services
• Hospitality, Tourism, And Retail Operations
• Transport, Logistics, And Public Utilities
• Seasonal Agricultural And Construction Work

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managers and certain key decision-makers may have more flexible schedules, but they are still subject to overarching health and safety rules on working time. Employment contracts for managerial staff often provide for irregular or extended hours, including availability outside normal working time. However, you should clearly define expectations in writing, specify whether overtime premiums apply, and ensure that even exempt employees receive adequate daily and weekly rest. Misclassifying employees as managerial to avoid overtime obligations can expose you to inspections, back-pay claims, and administrative fines.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Bosnia & Herzegovina

Statutory full-time work in Bosnia & Herzegovina is generally 40 hours per week. This is the benchmark for determining part-time status, overtime thresholds, and eligibility for certain benefits. Any schedule below 40 hours is typically treated as part-time, and the employee’s rights – such as annual leave and social contributions – are prorated according to actual working time. When designing work schedules, you should document the agreed weekly hours in the employment contract, respect entity-specific rules, and monitor actual hours worked to ensure they do not systematically exceed the statutory full-time norm without proper overtime treatment.

Overtime Regulations In Bosnia & Herzegovina

What Counts As Overtime In Bosnia & Herzegovina?

Overtime in Bosnia & Herzegovina generally means any working time performed beyond the employee’s agreed full-time schedule, which is usually 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Work performed on weekly rest days, public holidays, or at night can also qualify as overtime or attract higher pay rates, depending on the applicable entity law and collective agreement. Overtime must be ordered or at least approved by the employer, and you should avoid informal practices where employees stay late without recorded authorization, as these hours can still be claimed as payable overtime.

Maximum Overtime In Bosnia & Herzegovina

Entity-level labor laws in Bosnia & Herzegovina typically cap overtime at around 8 hours per week and 10 hours per day in total working time, with an annual ceiling that is often set at approximately 150 hours, subject to specific local rules and collective agreements. Overtime should be used only in exceptional or temporary circumstances, such as unexpected workload peaks, urgent repairs, or force majeure. You must keep accurate records of overtime hours for each employee and ensure that overtime does not compromise required daily and weekly rest periods. Minors and certain protected categories of workers are generally prohibited from working overtime.

Overtime Payout Rates In Bosnia & Herzegovina

Overtime work in Bosnia & Herzegovina must be compensated at a higher rate than regular hours. While exact percentages can vary by entity, collective agreement, and sector, overtime is commonly paid at a premium of at least 30 percent above the employee’s regular hourly wage, with higher rates often applied for work at night, on Sundays, or on public holidays. You should define overtime rates clearly in employment contracts or internal regulations, ensure that payroll systems correctly calculate premiums, and avoid replacing overtime pay with flat allowances unless this is explicitly permitted by law and clearly documented. Failure to pay proper overtime premiums can lead to back-pay liabilities, penalties, and reputational risk.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Bosnia & Herzegovina

Employees in Bosnia & Herzegovina typically work up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and rest periods are structured around these limits to protect health and safety. During the working day, employees who work more than a set number of hours are entitled to a meal break, and they must also receive uninterrupted daily rest between shifts and a weekly rest period, usually on weekends. These rest entitlements apply regardless of whether employees work standard hours, shift patterns, or authorized overtime, and you must plan schedules so that daily and weekly rest are not eroded by extended working time.

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