Overtime and Break Laws in Kerala (2026)
Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1960 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
2x the ordinary rate for work over 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week (ss.6, 7). Max 10 hours a day including overtime and 50 overtime hours a quarter.
Breaks and lunch
No work period over 4 hours without a rest interval of at least 1 hour (s.8). Spread-over max 10.5 hours (s.9).
Overtime in Kerala
- 2x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 2x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- Total including overtime: 10 hours a day, except stock-taking and accounts days (s.6 proviso). Overtime cap: 50 hours per quarter.
- Ordinary wages = basic plus allowances, excluding bonus (s.7 Explanation).
- Shop closes one full day a week and each employee gets one whole day off without pay deduction (s.11).
- Managerial staff, travelling staff, canvassers and caretakers are excluded (s.3). No headcount threshold.
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 8h 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) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 96 | 12 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Kerala
- Meal break: 1 × 60 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 4 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 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.
- Because no stretch may exceed 4 hours, a day over 8 worked hours needs a second interval.
Pay by Kerala rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Kerala: 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.
Start freeOfficial sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in Kerala?
2x the ordinary rate for work over 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week (ss.6, 7). Max 10 hours a day including overtime and 50 overtime hours a quarter.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Kerala?
Not allowed
What breaks are required in Kerala?
No work period over 4 hours without a rest interval of at least 1 hour (s.8). Spread-over max 10.5 hours (s.9).