Overtime and Break Laws in Karnataka (2026)
Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
2x normal wages for work over 9 hours a day or 48 hours a week (ss.7, 8). Max 10 hours a day including overtime and 50 overtime hours in 3 months.
Breaks and lunch
A rest interval of at least 1 hour after no more than 5 hours of work (s.9). Spread-over max 12 hours (s.10).
Overtime in Karnataka
- 2x pay for hours past 9 in a day.
- 2x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- Total hours including overtime may not exceed 10 a day, except on stock-taking and accounts days (s.7(1) proviso).
- Overtime cap: 50 hours in any 3 continuous months (s.7(1) second proviso).
- Normal wages for overtime = basic plus allowances, excluding bonus (s.8(2)).
- One whole day off a week for every employee (s.12). A 24x7 notification of Sep 2024 for establishments with 10+ employees repeats the 10 hours a day and 50 hours per quarter limits (secondary source).
- Managerial staff and intermittent workers such as drivers and watch staff are excluded (s.3(1)). A 2025 proposal for a 10-hour day and 144 OT hours a quarter was reported dropped in July 2025.
Averaging over a pay period: Not allowed
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (2x after 48h in a week, 2x after 9h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (2x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 90 | 10 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 96 | 12 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 75 | 5 |
Breaks and lunch in Karnataka
- Meal break: 1 × 60 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 5 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
- The Act does not say whether the interval is paid.
- Spread-over includes the rest interval (s.10).
Pay by Karnataka rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Karnataka: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in Karnataka?
2x normal wages for work over 9 hours a day or 48 hours a week (ss.7, 8). Max 10 hours a day including overtime and 50 overtime hours in 3 months.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Karnataka?
Not allowed
What breaks are required in Karnataka?
A rest interval of at least 1 hour after no more than 5 hours of work (s.9). Spread-over max 12 hours (s.10).