Working Hours and Overtime in Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, 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, employers should formalize working-time rules in contracts and policies, implement reliable timekeeping systems, and train managers on scheduling, overtime approval, and rest entitlements. By 2026, regulators are expected to place greater emphasis on enforcement, documentation, and the prevention of excessive hours, particularly for vulnerable workers and in high-risk sectors such as mining, construction, and hospitality.

• 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 Sierra Leone?

An employee whose age is 17 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 60 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 8:00 to 17:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, a standard full-time schedule is generally based on 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, usually spread over five working days. Employers should structure work so that normal hours do not routinely exceed these limits, except where a clear overtime arrangement is in place. For young workers under 18, daily and weekly limits are lower to protect their health and development, and night work is generally restricted. Employers should define working hours clearly in employment contracts, including start and end times, breaks, and any shift patterns.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Healthcare And Hospital Services
• Security, Guarding, And Emergency Services
• Hospitality, Hotels, And Restaurants
• Mining, Agriculture, And Plantation Work
• Transport, Ports, And Logistics Operations

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managerial and certain highly skilled employees in Sierra Leone may have more flexible schedules and may not be subject to the same strict hourly limits as rank-and-file staff. However, employers should avoid assuming that all managers are automatically exempt from working-time protections. Employment contracts should specify whether the role is managerial or supervisory, the expected working hours, and how additional hours will be treated. Even where a role is treated as exempt, employers remain responsible for preventing excessive working hours that could endanger health and safety and for complying with any applicable rest and leave requirements.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Sierra Leone

For most sectors in Sierra Leone, statutory full-time work is understood to be around 40 hours per week, typically 8 hours per day over five days. Some collective agreements or company policies may set slightly different patterns, such as 9-hour days with a shorter Friday, or six-day weeks with shorter daily hours, provided that weekly limits and rest requirements are respected. Employers should document full-time hours in contracts and internal policies, ensure accurate timekeeping, and regularly review schedules to confirm that actual practice aligns with statutory and contractual limits.

Overtime Regulations In Sierra Leone

What Counts As Overtime In Sierra Leone?

Overtime in Sierra Leone generally refers to any time an employee works beyond the normal daily or weekly hours set out in their contract or in applicable labour standards, typically more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week for full-time staff. Overtime can arise from extended shifts, additional days worked, or work performed on public holidays or weekly rest days. Employers should obtain prior approval for overtime, keep accurate records of hours worked, and ensure that overtime is genuinely necessary rather than a substitute for proper staffing.

Maximum Overtime In Sierra Leone

While Sierra Leonean law aims to prevent excessive working hours, it allows reasonable overtime in response to operational needs, emergencies, or seasonal peaks. As a good-practice benchmark, employers should avoid scheduling more than 2 to 3 hours of overtime per day and should keep total weekly hours, including overtime, below 48 to 52 hours on a sustained basis. Any overtime arrangements should be clearly defined in contracts or policies, agreed with the employee, and, where applicable, aligned with collective agreements. Employers should monitor overtime patterns to ensure that employees are not exposed to chronic overwork and fatigue.

Overtime Payout Rates In Sierra Leone

Overtime work in Sierra Leone is generally expected to be compensated at a premium rate above the employee’s normal hourly wage. Many employers apply at least 125% of the regular rate for standard overtime hours worked on ordinary working days and 150% or more for work performed on weekly rest days or public holidays. Some sectors or collective agreements may provide higher rates or compensatory time off in lieu of cash payment, provided the employee agrees and the arrangement is properly documented. Employers should state overtime rates and calculation methods in employment contracts, ensure that payroll systems correctly capture overtime hours, and maintain transparent records that can be produced in the event of an inspection or dispute.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, employees typically work around 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and rest periods and breaks are designed to ensure that these hours are worked safely and sustainably. Employers must schedule meal and rest breaks within the working day, provide sufficient daily rest between shifts, and guarantee weekly rest days so that total working time, including any overtime, does not compromise employee health or productivity.

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