Working Hours and Overtime in Democratic Republic of Congo

In Democratic Republic of Congo, 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, expect closer scrutiny of working-time records, enforcement of overtime premiums, and stronger protections for vulnerable groups such as minors and night workers. Establish clear internal rules that align with statutory standards, train managers on scheduling and approval of overtime, and regularly audit timekeeping and payroll to ensure that all hours are captured and correctly compensated. Proactive compliance will reduce the risk of disputes, inspections, and financial penalties while supporting employee well-being and retention.

• 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?

An employee whose age is 16 or younger has a maximum of 6 hours per day and 30 hours per week. An employee whose age is 18 or older is allowed to work 45 hours per week. A minimum meal interval of 60 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 17:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Democratic Republic of Congo

Under Congolese labor law, the general statutory limit for adult employees is 45 hours per week, usually spread over 5 or 6 days. In many sectors this translates into 9 hours per day over a 5-day week or 7.5 hours per day over a 6-day week, unless a collective agreement or internal policy provides for a different distribution that remains within the weekly ceiling. You should clearly define the normal daily and weekly schedule in employment contracts and internal regulations, and ensure that any work beyond these limits is treated and compensated as overtime.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Mining And Extractive Industries
• Transport And Logistics Services
• Healthcare And Hospital Services
• Security, Guarding, And Surveillance
• Hospitality, Tourism, And Catering
• Agriculture And Seasonal Campaigns

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managers and employees who have broad decision-making authority, significant autonomy over their schedules, or who represent the employer may be treated differently for working-time purposes. In practice, their hours are often less strictly monitored, and some may be excluded from certain overtime provisions by contract or collective agreement. However, you should not assume that all managers are automatically exempt. To reduce risk, clearly define managerial status, responsibilities, and compensation structure in writing, and ensure that any de facto non-managerial staff are still tracked for hours and overtime compliance.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Democratic Republic of Congo

Full-time employment is generally based on the statutory 45-hour workweek for adult employees. Contracts that provide for substantially fewer hours may be treated as part-time, which can affect eligibility for certain benefits and entitlements. When designing work schedules, align your standard full-time hours with the legal weekly maximum, specify whether work is organized over 5 or 6 days, and document any flexible or shift-based arrangements so that total weekly hours remain compliant.

Overtime Regulations In Democratic Republic of Congo

What Counts As Overtime In Democratic Republic of Congo?

Overtime is generally any working time performed by an employee beyond the normal hours set in the employment contract, internal regulations, or applicable collective agreement, provided those normal hours do not exceed the statutory 45-hour weekly limit. Work performed beyond 45 hours in a week, or beyond the agreed daily schedule, is typically considered overtime and must be authorized by the employer. You should implement a clear approval process for overtime, maintain accurate time records, and ensure that on-call, standby, and preparatory work that qualifies as working time is included when calculating overtime.

Maximum Overtime In Democratic Republic of Congo

Congolese labor rules generally limit the amount of overtime that can be performed to protect employee health and safety. While specific caps can vary by sector and may be refined by collective agreements, a common framework is to restrict overtime to a modest number of hours per day and per week, and to impose an annual ceiling. Employers should avoid scheduling overtime on a routine basis and should instead use it for exceptional or temporary workload peaks. Before introducing regular overtime, review any sectoral rules, consult with worker representatives where required, and ensure that total working time, including overtime, does not exceed safe and lawful limits.

Overtime Payout Rates In Democratic Republic of Congo

Overtime hours must be compensated at a premium rate above the employee’s normal hourly wage. Typical practice is to apply higher percentage increases for overtime performed at night, on weekly rest days, or on public holidays, reflecting the greater disruption to employees. The exact rates may be set by labor legislation, collective agreements, or company policy, but they must never fall below the statutory minimums. You should clearly state overtime rates in contracts or policies, calculate the base hourly rate correctly from the employee’s regular remuneration, and ensure that overtime premiums are itemized transparently on payslips.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Democratic Republic of Congo

In Democratic Republic of Congo, employees typically work up to 9 hours per day within a 45-hour workweek, and rest periods and breaks are designed to ensure that these hours are worked safely and sustainably. Employers must integrate meal breaks into the daily schedule, provide sufficient daily and weekly rest between shifts, and pay particular attention to the protection of minors and night workers so that total working time and rest entitlements remain balanced.

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