Working Hours and Overtime in Myanmar

In Myanmar, 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.

Employers should establish clear policies that reflect Myanmar’s statutory framework on standard hours, overtime, and rest, and ensure that managers apply these rules consistently in scheduling and payroll. Accurate timekeeping, transparent payslips, and documented approvals for overtime are essential to demonstrate compliance during inspections or disputes. Looking ahead to 2026, regulators are expected to continue focusing on enforcement, record-keeping quality, and the prevention of excessive working hours, particularly in high-risk sectors such as manufacturing, hospitality, and transport.

• 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 Myanmar?

An employee whose age is 15 or younger has a maximum of 4 hours per day and 20 hours per week. An employee whose age is 16 or older is allowed to work 48 hours per week. A minimum meal interval of 30 minutes must be observed by employees who work more than 5 hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 9:00 to 17:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Myanmar

Under Myanmar law, the general limit for adult employees in most commercial and industrial establishments is 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week, excluding designated meal breaks. These limits are designed to prevent excessive working time and to protect employee health and safety. Employers should structure work schedules so that daily hours do not exceed 8 hours and weekly hours do not exceed 48 hours, unless valid overtime arrangements are in place and properly authorized.

Daily working hours are usually arranged in one continuous or split shift, with a meal break in the middle of the day. Any time that an employee is required to be at the workplace and at the employer’s disposal – including preparatory and closing activities – generally counts as working time. Employers should keep accurate records of start and end times, as well as breaks, to demonstrate compliance in the event of an inspection.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Manufacturing And Factory Operations
• Shops And Commercial Establishments
• Hotels, Tourism, And Hospitality
• Transport And Logistics Services
• Plantations And Agricultural Work
• Continuous Process And Shift-Based Operations

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managers, supervisors, and certain categories of technical or confidential staff may be treated differently from rank-and-file employees under Myanmar practice, particularly in relation to overtime eligibility and scheduling flexibility. While the statutory daily and weekly limits are intended to protect most workers, employers often provide more flexible arrangements for high-level staff whose duties require irregular or extended hours.

However, labeling an employee as “managerial” does not automatically remove all protections. Employers should clearly define managerial roles in employment contracts and internal policies, specify whether overtime is included in the salary, and ensure that workloads remain reasonable. Where there is doubt, it is safer to apply standard working-hour protections and to compensate additional hours in line with company policy and applicable regulations.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Myanmar

In Myanmar, a standard full-time schedule is generally understood to be 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week for adult employees, typically spread over 6 working days. Many employers, especially in urban and professional sectors, choose to operate on a 5-day workweek with slightly longer daily hours or with reduced Saturday work to remain competitive and attractive to talent.

When designing full-time roles, employers should ensure that contractual hours, internal policies, and actual practice align with the statutory framework. Any regular requirement to work beyond 48 hours per week should be treated as overtime, subject to legal limits, premium pay, and prior approval from the relevant authorities where required.

Overtime Regulations In Myanmar

What Counts As Overtime In Myanmar?

Overtime in Myanmar generally refers to any working time performed by an employee in excess of the standard 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week that has been requested or approved by the employer. Work performed on weekly rest days or public holidays is also typically treated as overtime or premium work, even if the total weekly hours do not exceed 48.

To qualify as overtime, the additional hours should be expressly authorized in advance, recorded accurately, and paid at the applicable premium rate. Employers should implement clear procedures for requesting, approving, and tracking overtime, and should avoid informal practices where employees stay late or work on rest days without proper authorization or compensation.

Maximum Overtime In Myanmar

Myanmar law places limits on how much overtime an employee can work to safeguard health and safety. In many sectors, overtime is capped at no more than 3 hours per day and 20 hours per week, meaning that the total working time should not normally exceed 11 hours in a single day or 68 hours in a week. Certain industries or special circumstances may be subject to different caps or require prior approval from the labor authorities.

Employers should monitor overtime levels closely, both at the individual and departmental level, to ensure that these limits are not exceeded. Where production peaks or seasonal demands require additional hours, employers should plan staffing in advance, consider shift work or temporary hires, and obtain any necessary approvals from the relevant labor office.

Overtime Payout Rates In Myanmar

Overtime hours in Myanmar must be compensated at a premium rate above the employee’s normal hourly wage. In many cases, the minimum overtime rate is at least 2 times the basic hourly rate for work performed beyond the standard daily or weekly limits. Work performed on weekly rest days or public holidays may attract even higher premium rates, depending on the applicable regulations and any collective or company agreements.

To calculate overtime pay, employers should first determine the employee’s regular hourly rate by dividing the monthly or daily wage by the corresponding number of working hours. The applicable overtime multiplier is then applied to each qualifying overtime hour. Employers should clearly explain overtime rates in employment contracts and payslips, and maintain detailed records of overtime hours and payments to demonstrate compliance.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Myanmar

Employees in Myanmar typically work up to 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week, and rest periods and breaks are structured around these limits to protect health and productivity. Employers must ensure that employees receive appropriate meal breaks during the working day, as well as sufficient daily and weekly rest between shifts, so that total working time – including any overtime – does not undermine employee wellbeing or breach statutory limits.

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