Working Hours and Overtime in Mongolia

In Mongolia, 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, stronger enforcement of rest and overtime rules, and growing expectations from employees for predictable schedules. Implementing clear policies, accurate timekeeping systems, and manager training now will help you adapt to any regulatory updates, reduce legal risk, and support employee wellbeing.

• 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 Mongolia?

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 16 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 5 consecutive hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 9:00 to 18:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Mongolia

Under Mongolian labour law, the standard working time for adult employees is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, typically spread over 5 working days. You should organize schedules so that employees do not exceed these limits on a regular basis, except where the law expressly allows overtime or special regimes. Part-time arrangements are permitted, but you must document reduced hours clearly in the employment contract and ensure that part-time staff are not pressured to work beyond their agreed schedule without proper overtime treatment.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Continuous Process Industries – Such As Mining And Energy
• Healthcare And Emergency Services
• Transport, Logistics, And Shift-Based Operations
• Seasonal And Agricultural Work
• Security, Guarding, And Surveillance Services

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managers and certain highly autonomous employees may have more flexible working time arrangements, but they are not automatically exempt from working-hour protections. You should define their working time expectations in writing, including whether their salary is deemed to cover a reasonable amount of additional hours. Even for managers, you remain responsible for preventing excessive working hours that could endanger health and safety, and you must still respect minimum daily and weekly rest periods. Any agreement that attempts to waive statutory protections is generally invalid.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Mongolia

Full-time employment in Mongolia is generally based on a 40-hour workweek for adult employees, usually 8 hours per day over 5 days. When designing work schedules, you should ensure that total weekly hours, including any overtime, remain within legal limits and that employees receive the required breaks and rest periods. If you introduce compressed workweeks, rotating shifts, or flexible hours, confirm that the average weekly working time does not exceed the statutory standard and that all changes are reflected in internal policies and employment contracts.

Overtime Regulations In Mongolia

What Counts As Overtime In Mongolia?

Overtime in Mongolia generally refers to any working time performed beyond the standard 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week for adult employees, as set out in the employment contract and internal rules. Work performed on weekly rest days or public holidays is also treated as overtime or premium work, even if the total weekly hours do not exceed 40. You should obtain the employee’s consent for planned overtime where required by law, keep accurate records of all additional hours, and ensure that overtime is used only to address temporary or exceptional business needs rather than as a permanent staffing solution.

Maximum Overtime In Mongolia

Mongolian legislation sets limits on the amount of overtime that may be required from an employee within a given period to protect health and safety. As a general guide, overtime should be occasional and not cause the employee’s total working time to become excessive when averaged over the relevant reference period. You should establish internal caps on daily, weekly, and monthly overtime, obtain prior managerial approval for any additional hours, and monitor timesheets to ensure that no employee regularly exceeds statutory or policy limits. Special restrictions apply to minors, pregnant employees, and employees with certain health conditions, who should not be required to perform overtime.

Overtime Payout Rates In Mongolia

Overtime work in Mongolia must be compensated at enhanced rates above the employee’s normal hourly wage. Work performed beyond standard daily or weekly hours is typically paid at a premium percentage, with higher rates often applying to night work, work on weekly rest days, and work on public holidays. You may agree with employees or their representatives on specific premium rates, provided they are not less favourable than statutory minimums. Overtime compensation can be provided either as increased pay or, where the law allows and the employee agrees, as equivalent paid time off, but all arrangements should be clearly documented and reflected in payroll records.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Mongolia

In Mongolia, employees typically work 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and rest periods are designed to protect their health within this framework. You must schedule meal and rest breaks so that no one works more than 5 consecutive hours without at least a 60-minute meal interval, and you must also ensure adequate daily and weekly rest between shifts. Properly structuring breaks around standard working hours helps you manage fatigue, reduce accidents, and remain compliant with labour regulations.

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