Working Hours and Overtime in Romania

In Romania, 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 regulations continue to evolve toward 2026, authorities are placing greater emphasis on accurate timekeeping, transparent scheduling, and the prevention of excessive working hours, particularly for vulnerable groups and night workers. Employers should regularly review internal policies, collective agreements, and employment contracts to ensure they reflect current legal standards, and invest in reliable systems for tracking working time, overtime, and rest periods. Proactive compliance will reduce the risk of inspections, fines, and litigation while supporting employee wellbeing and retention.

• 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 Romania?

An employee whose age is 18 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 6 hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 9:00 to 17:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Romania

Under Romanian labour law, the standard working schedule for adult employees is 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, usually spread over 5 working days. The daily working time, including overtime, should generally not exceed 12 hours, and the average weekly working time – including overtime – must not exceed 48 hours over the applicable reference period. Employers must structure work schedules so that employees do not systematically exceed these limits and must document working time accurately.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Healthcare And Emergency Services
• Continuous Process Manufacturing And Heavy Industry
• Transport, Logistics, And Road Transport
• Hospitality, Tourism, And Retail
• Agriculture And Seasonal Field Work
• Security, Surveillance, And Guarding Services

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Romanian law allows certain categories of managerial employees – such as senior executives with broad decision-making authority and control over their own schedules – to work under more flexible arrangements. While these employees are still entitled to health and safety protections, daily and weekly limits may be applied more flexibly, and they are often excluded from standard overtime compensation rules if this is clearly defined in their employment contracts. Employers must ensure that any such exemptions are lawful, justified by the nature of the role, and transparently documented, and that managers still receive adequate rest and do not face excessive workloads.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Romania

Statutory full-time employment in Romania is generally defined as 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week for adult employees. Work performed below this threshold is typically considered part-time and must be reflected as such in the employment contract. Employers should clearly specify the normal daily and weekly working hours, work schedule, and any shift patterns in the contract and internal regulations, and must adjust salary, benefits, and leave entitlements proportionally for part-time staff while ensuring equal treatment compared with full-time employees.

Overtime Regulations In Romania

What Counts As Overtime In Romania?

In Romania, overtime is generally any working time performed by an employee beyond the normal 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week as set out in the employment contract and internal regulations. Overtime must usually be requested or at least expressly approved by the employer, except in urgent situations such as force majeure or to prevent accidents. Employers must record overtime separately from regular hours, obtain the employee’s consent where required, and ensure that overtime does not become a permanent substitute for proper staffing levels.

Maximum Overtime In Romania

Romanian legislation limits the average weekly working time – including overtime – to 48 hours, calculated over a reference period that typically may extend up to 4 months, and in some sectors up to 6 months, subject to legal conditions and collective agreements. This means that while employees may occasionally work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, the average over the reference period cannot exceed 48 hours per week. Employers should monitor cumulative overtime, avoid scheduling systematic long hours, and ensure that employees still receive their minimum daily and weekly rest periods.

Overtime Payout Rates In Romania

Overtime in Romania must be compensated either by paid time off or by an increased wage. As a rule, employers should first aim to grant paid time off of at least the equivalent duration of the overtime worked, usually within a set period after the overtime is performed. Where time off in lieu is not possible, overtime must be paid with a wage increase, commonly at least 75% above the employee’s regular hourly rate, subject to applicable law and collective agreements. Higher premiums may apply for overtime performed at night, on weekly rest days, or on public holidays, and these conditions should be clearly defined in employment contracts and internal policies.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Romania

Employees in Romania typically work 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and the law links rest periods and breaks directly to these standard working hours to protect employee health and safety. Employers must provide meal breaks during longer shifts, guarantee uninterrupted daily rest between working days, and ensure weekly rest days so that total working time – including overtime – does not undermine recovery time. Special protections apply to minors and night workers, and all rest arrangements should be clearly reflected in work schedules and internal regulations.

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