Working Hours and Overtime in Ecuador

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 30 minutes must be observed by employees who work more than 4 hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 08:00 to 17:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Ecuador

In Ecuador, the general statutory limit for daytime work is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, usually spread over 5 days. You must organize schedules so that employees do not exceed these limits on a regular basis, unless they are working under an approved special schedule such as a compressed workweek. Any time worked beyond these limits is treated as overtime and must be compensated at the applicable premium rates.

Collective bargaining agreements and internal policies can introduce different daily distributions, such as 9-hour days offset by shorter days, provided the average does not exceed 40 hours per week over the agreed reference period. As an employer, you are required to keep accurate time records and to obtain employee consent for changes to regular schedules. You should also ensure that any flexible or shift arrangements still respect daily rest and weekly rest requirements.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

Companies hiring in sectors like healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, or hospitality may be subject to special scheduling rules. In Ecuador, these sectors often rely on rotating shifts, split shifts, or 12-hour duty periods that are specifically authorized by the Ministry of Labour or by collective agreements. You must document these special regimes in employment contracts and internal regulations.

Even in these sectors, you must ensure the average weekly limit is respected over a reference period. You should also monitor fatigue risks and ensure that employees receive the legally required daily and weekly rest. Failure to adapt schedules to sector-specific rules can lead to fines and mandatory back payment of overtime premiums.

• Healthcare professionals may work 12-hour shifts with extended rest periods.
• Transport workers must comply with EU-aligned rest and driving limits.
• Manufacturing and security staff often rotate through night or weekend shifts.

Even in these sectors, you must ensure the average weekly limit is respected over a reference period. You should also verify that any special shift patterns have been formally approved where required and are reflected in written policies.

Managerial And Exempt Employees

In Ecuador, senior managerial staff and employees in positions of trust may be excluded from strict hourly tracking, but they are not automatically exempt from all working-time protections. Their contracts should clearly define their managerial status, responsibilities, and whether they are subject to the standard 40-hour week or a different regime. You should avoid labeling employees as “managers” solely to bypass overtime obligations.

Where managers are genuinely exempt from overtime, you must still respect reasonable working hours and rest periods to protect health and safety. For mid-level supervisors and technical staff, it is common to apply the standard limits and pay overtime when they exceed 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. Clear documentation and consistent practice are essential to defend your classification decisions in inspections or disputes.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Ecuador

Statutory full-time work in Ecuador is generally understood as 40 hours per week for daytime schedules, normally distributed over 5 days. Part-time arrangements involve fewer than 40 hours per week and must be clearly specified in the employment contract, including the distribution of hours. You should ensure that part-time staff do not regularly work beyond their agreed hours without proper overtime treatment.

For continuous operations or shift work, full-time hours may be distributed across 6 days, provided the total does not exceed 40 hours per week and weekly rest is respected. Compressed workweeks or special schedules must be agreed in writing and, where required, approved by the labour authority. Any deviation from the standard pattern that increases daily hours must still comply with overtime and rest-period rules.

Overtime Regulations In Ecuador

In Ecuador, you must monitor and record all hours worked beyond the standard 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, as these hours generally qualify as overtime. Employers are required to maintain accurate attendance records and payroll documentation that clearly show overtime hours and the corresponding premium rates paid. Non-compliance with overtime rules can result in administrative fines, back payment obligations, and potential labour claims.

What Counts As Overtime In Ecuador?

Overtime in Ecuador is typically any time worked beyond 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week under a daytime schedule. Work performed between 06:00 and 19:00 beyond these limits is treated as daytime overtime and must be paid at a minimum of 150% (1.5x) of the regular hourly wage. If the overtime falls within the legally defined night period, higher night overtime premiums apply.

Work performed on the employee’s weekly rest day or on public holidays is also treated as overtime and attracts enhanced premiums. In Ecuador, work on mandatory rest days and public holidays must be paid at a minimum of 200% (2.0x) of the regular hourly wage, regardless of whether the total weekly hours exceed 40. You should obtain prior consent where possible and document the reason for requiring rest-day or holiday work.

Maximum Overtime In Ecuador

Under Ecuadorian law, overtime is capped at 4 hours per day and 12 hours per week for ordinary overtime, meaning an employee should not work more than 12 overtime hours in any given week. This implies a practical weekly maximum of 52 hours (40 regular hours plus 12 overtime hours) for most employees. You must organize schedules so that employees do not exceed these limits except in narrowly defined emergency situations.

On an annual basis, the general reference used in practice is that overtime should not exceed 170 hours per year per employee, except where a special regime is authorized by the Ministry of Labour. Any request to exceed the standard caps must be justified by exceptional circumstances and, where required, notified to or approved by the labour authority. Systematic use of overtime near or above these caps can trigger inspections and may be considered an abuse of the overtime system.

Overtime Payout Rates In Ecuador

For daytime overtime worked beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, you must pay at least 150% (1.5x) of the employee’s regular hourly rate. Night overtime, when hours fall between 19:00 and 06:00, must be paid at a minimum of 175% (1.75x) of the regular hourly rate, combining the night premium with the overtime premium. These minimums apply regardless of whether the employee is paid hourly or on a salary, and you should calculate the hourly equivalent for salaried staff.

When employees work on their weekly rest day or on a public holiday, the law requires a minimum premium of 200% (2.0x) of the regular hourly wage for those hours. If such work is also performed at night, many employers apply combined premiums of at least 225% (2.25x) to reflect both night and holiday or rest-day work, and you should clearly define this in your internal policies or collective agreements. All overtime and premium payments must be itemized separately on payslips to ensure transparency and compliance.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Ecuador

In Ecuador, employees generally 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 few continuous hours are entitled to a meal break, and they must also receive uninterrupted daily and weekly rest. As an employer, you must integrate these breaks into your scheduling so that total working time and rest periods remain compliant.

• Meal Break: Employees who work more than 4 consecutive hours must receive at least a 30-minute unpaid meal break, and many employers in Ecuador provide 60 minutes by policy or collective agreement.
• Daily Rest: Workers are entitled to a minimum of 12 consecutive hours of rest between the end of one workday and the start of the next, which you must respect when planning shifts in Ecuador.
• Weekly Rest: Employees must receive at least 24 consecutive hours of weekly rest, typically on Sunday in Ecuador, and any work during this period triggers overtime premiums and substitute rest.
• Minors: In Ecuador, workers under 18 have shorter maximum daily and weekly hours and must receive more frequent breaks, and you should avoid scheduling them for night or hazardous work.
• Employer Duty: Employers in Ecuador are responsible for organizing work so that statutory breaks and rest periods are actually taken, and labour inspectors may review schedules and records to verify compliance.

Night Shifts And Weekend Regulations In Ecuador

Night and weekend work are legal in Ecuador but subject to additional employer responsibilities and employee protections. You must carefully manage scheduling, pay the correct statutory premiums, and monitor health and safety risks associated with irregular hours. Failure to do so can result in fines, back pay, and reputational damage.

Night work in Ecuador is generally defined as work performed between 19:00 and 06:00, regardless of the sector or role. Hours worked during this period attract a night premium of at least 25% (1.25x) over the regular daytime rate, and if those hours are also overtime, the combined premium must reach at least 175% (1.75x). You should clearly classify shifts as daytime, mixed, or night shifts in contracts and internal policies.

• Premium Pay: In Ecuador, night work must be paid with a minimum 25% (1.25x) premium over the regular hourly wage, and night overtime is typically paid at a combined rate of at least 175% (1.75x).
• Health Monitoring: Employers in Ecuador are encouraged and, in higher-risk sectors, required to provide periodic medical examinations and fatigue assessments for regular night workers to mitigate health impacts.
• Workplace Restrictions: In Ecuador, minors under 18 and pregnant or breastfeeding workers are generally prohibited or strongly restricted from performing night work or hazardous weekend shifts, and you must adapt roles accordingly.

Weekend work in Ecuador is allowed, but Sunday is typically the statutory weekly rest day and should provide at least 24 consecutive hours of rest. If you require employees to work on Sunday or another designated weekly rest day, you must pay at least 200% (2.0x) of the regular hourly wage and provide a substitute rest day. Public holiday work is treated similarly, with a minimum 200% (2.0x) premium and appropriate compensatory rest where applicable.