Working Hours and Overtime in Mauritius

In Mauritius, 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 closer scrutiny of working-time records, overtime practices, and rest-period compliance, particularly in sectors with shift work or extended hours. Clear contracts, accurate timekeeping systems, and transparent overtime approval processes will be essential to demonstrate that you respect the 45-hour weekly standard, apply correct overtime rates, and provide the required daily and weekly rest. Regulators are likely to focus on vulnerable groups – such as young workers and night workers – and on employers who systematically rely on excessive overtime instead of sustainable staffing levels.

• 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 Mauritius?

An employee whose age is 18 or younger has a maximum of 8 hours per day and 35 hours per week. An employee whose age is 18 or older is allowed to work 45 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 9:00 to 17:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Mauritius

Under the Workers’ Rights Act, the general statutory limit for adult employees in Mauritius is 45 hours per week, usually spread over 5 or 6 days. In many sectors this is structured as 8 hours per day on 5 days plus a shorter day on the sixth, or 9 hours per day over 5 days, provided the weekly cap is respected. Any work performed beyond the agreed normal hours or beyond 45 hours in a week is treated as overtime and must be compensated at enhanced rates. You should clearly define normal working hours in employment contracts and internal policies, while ensuring they never exceed the statutory ceiling.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Hospitality, Tourism, And Hotels
• Security, Guarding, And Surveillance Services
• Transport, Logistics, And Port Operations
• Healthcare, Clinics, And Emergency Services
• Manufacturing And Export-Oriented Enterprises
• Retail, Supermarkets, And Shopping Malls

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managerial and executive employees in Mauritius may have more flexible or irregular schedules, particularly where they exercise significant autonomy and decision-making authority. However, you cannot simply label an employee as “managerial” to avoid working-time protections. Unless an employee clearly falls within a statutory or collectively agreed exemption, the 45-hour weekly limit, overtime rules, and rest-period requirements still apply. For genuine senior managers, it is common to provide higher base salaries and additional benefits in recognition of longer or less predictable hours, but you should still monitor workloads to avoid health and safety risks and to comply with any applicable sectoral agreements.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Mauritius

Full-time employment in Mauritius is generally based on a 45-hour workweek for adult employees, excluding unpaid meal breaks. Contracts should specify the normal daily and weekly hours, the distribution of hours across the week, and any shift or roster arrangements. Part-time employees work fewer than the standard full-time hours but are still entitled to pro-rated rights and protections. When designing work schedules, ensure that full-time hours do not exceed statutory limits, that overtime is properly authorized and recorded, and that employees receive the required daily and weekly rest.

Overtime Regulations In Mauritius

What Counts As Overtime In Mauritius?

In Mauritius, overtime is generally any time worked in excess of an employee’s normal contractual hours or beyond the statutory 45-hour weekly limit for adult employees. Work performed on public holidays, weekly rest days, or at night may also qualify for premium pay, even if the total weekly hours remain within 45. Overtime must normally be requested or approved by the employer, and you should keep accurate records of hours worked, including start and finish times, to demonstrate compliance in the event of an inspection or dispute.

Maximum Overtime In Mauritius

While the law allows employers to require overtime in specific circumstances, it also seeks to prevent excessive working hours. As a general guide, you should avoid scheduling employees beyond a combined total that regularly exceeds 60 hours per week, including overtime, except in clearly justified peak periods or emergencies and subject to any sectoral limits. Certain sectors and shift systems may have specific caps or averaging arrangements set out in regulations or collective agreements. You should implement internal approval processes for overtime, monitor cumulative hours, and ensure that employees still receive their minimum daily and weekly rest.

Overtime Payout Rates In Mauritius

Overtime in Mauritius is typically paid at a premium rate calculated on the employee’s basic hourly wage. For work performed in excess of normal hours on a regular working day, overtime is commonly paid at 1.5 times the normal hourly rate. Work performed on a public holiday or on a weekly rest day is usually compensated at higher rates, often double time or more, depending on the applicable legislation or collective agreement. Some employees may agree to time off in lieu of overtime pay, but this must be clearly documented, granted within a reasonable period, and must not result in the employee receiving less than the statutory minimum entitlements.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Mauritius

Employees in Mauritius typically work up to 8 hours per day and 45 hours per week, and the law requires that these working hours be balanced with adequate rest periods and breaks to protect health and safety. During the working day, employees who work more than 6 hours must receive a meal break, and over each 24-hour and 7-day period they are entitled to minimum daily and weekly rest. As an employer, you must structure rosters, shifts, and overtime so that these rest entitlements are respected, even during peak business periods.

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