Working Hours and Overtime in Ecuador

In Ecuador, 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 an employer, you are responsible for organizing schedules so that employees do not exceed the statutory 8-hour day and 40-hour week, correctly identifying and compensating overtime, and guaranteeing daily and weekly rest. You should maintain accurate timekeeping systems, update contracts and internal policies to reflect current legal standards, and monitor developments in labor legislation and case law. By 2026, regulators are expected to continue focusing on enforcement of working-time rules, transparency in pay calculations, and the protection of vulnerable groups such as minors and night workers, so proactive compliance and documentation will be increasingly important.

• 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 Ecuador?

An employee whose age is 15 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 40 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 08:00 to 17:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Ecuador

Under Ecuadorian labor law, the standard working schedule for adult employees is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, typically spread over 5 days. The law generally prohibits employers from scheduling ordinary working time beyond these limits, except under clearly defined overtime or special-shift arrangements. Any work performed beyond the daily or weekly standard must be treated as overtime or as part of an authorized special schedule, with the corresponding premiums and protections.

Daytime work is usually defined as work performed between 06:00 and 19:00, while work performed outside this window may be considered night work and is subject to additional restrictions and higher pay rates. Employers must organize shifts so that employees do not exceed the legal daily and weekly limits when combining regular hours, overtime, and night work.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Continuous Process Manufacturing And Refineries
• Healthcare And Hospital Services
• Hospitality, Tourism, And Restaurants
• Transportation, Ports, And Aviation Services
• Agriculture, Fishing, And Seasonal Harvest Work
• Security, Surveillance, And Emergency Services

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managerial and trusted employees in Ecuador may have more flexible schedules, but they are not automatically exempt from all working-time protections. While certain high-level managers who effectively represent the employer and exercise broad decision-making authority may be excluded from strict overtime tracking, you should clearly define their status in employment contracts and internal policies. Even for these roles, you must still respect health and safety principles, reasonable limits on working hours, and adequate rest periods.

For mid-level managers, professionals, and technical staff, it is prudent to record working time and apply overtime rules whenever they exceed the statutory limits, unless a specific legal exemption applies. Misclassifying employees as exempt to avoid paying overtime can expose your company to back-pay claims, fines, and litigation.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Ecuador

Statutory full-time employment in Ecuador is generally based on a 40-hour workweek, usually distributed as 8 hours per day over 5 days. Many employers adopt a Monday–Friday schedule, but the law allows different distributions as long as the total weekly hours and daily limits are respected and employees receive their required weekly rest.

Part-time arrangements must be clearly documented, specifying the reduced number of hours and how they are distributed. When part-time employees work beyond their agreed schedule and exceed the statutory daily or weekly limits, those additional hours may qualify as overtime and must be compensated accordingly. Employers should maintain accurate time records for all employees to demonstrate compliance with full-time and part-time working-hour rules.

Overtime Regulations In Ecuador

What Counts As Overtime In Ecuador?

In Ecuador, overtime is generally any time worked by an employee beyond the statutory standard of 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, unless the employee is working under a legally approved special schedule. Both daily and weekly thresholds are relevant, so you should monitor hours on both bases. Work performed on weekly rest days or public holidays is also treated as overtime and attracts higher premium rates.

Overtime must be exceptional, justified by business needs, and authorized in advance by the employer. You are required to keep detailed records of hours worked, including start and end times, breaks, and any overtime performed. These records are essential in the event of an inspection or dispute with employees or labor authorities.

Maximum Overtime In Ecuador

Ecuadorian law places strict limits on the amount of overtime an employee may perform. As a general rule, overtime should not exceed 4 hours per day and 12 hours per week, and there are also monthly and annual caps designed to protect employee health and safety. Overtime is intended to be occasional rather than a permanent feature of the work schedule.

In exceptional circumstances, such as emergencies, force majeure, or urgent work to prevent serious damage or loss, additional overtime may be permitted, but you must be able to justify the necessity and still respect minimum daily and weekly rest. Systematically relying on overtime to cover regular staffing needs can be considered an abuse and may lead to sanctions.

Overtime Payout Rates In Ecuador

Overtime in Ecuador must be compensated with premium pay calculated on the employee’s regular hourly wage. Hours worked beyond the standard schedule during daytime are typically paid at a minimum of 150% of the regular rate. Night overtime, work performed on weekly rest days, and work on public holidays are usually paid at higher premiums, which can reach 200% or more of the regular rate depending on the circumstances.

Overtime premiums apply in addition to any night-work or holiday surcharges, and you must ensure that payroll systems correctly calculate and itemize these amounts on pay slips. Overtime cannot be waived by agreement, and replacing overtime pay with time off in lieu is only lawful when it is expressly allowed by law and agreed with the employee under clear conditions. Failure to pay the correct overtime premiums can result in back-pay obligations, interest, and administrative penalties.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Ecuador

Employees in Ecuador typically work up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and the law links rest periods and breaks directly to these limits to protect health and safety. During the working day, employees who work more than a set number of hours must receive a meal break, and between working days they are entitled to a continuous daily rest period. In addition, employees must receive a weekly rest day, usually on Sunday, and special protections apply to minors, who are subject to shorter working hours and stricter rest requirements. As an employer, you must structure schedules so that these breaks and rest periods are respected in practice, not just on paper.

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