Overtime and Break Laws in Punjab (2026)
Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, as amended by Punjab Act 12 of 2025 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
2x the normal hourly wage beyond 10 hours a day or 48 hours a week (s.7). Max 144 overtime hours a quarter.
Breaks and lunch
At least 30 minutes of rest after 5 hours of work (s.8(1)). Spread-over max 12 hours (s.8(2)).
Overtime in Punjab
- 2x pay for hours past 10 in a day.
- 2x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- Daily limit raised from 9 to 10 hours (s.7(1)). Overtime allowed on occasions of seasonal or exceptional pressure (s.7(2)).
- Overtime cap raised from 50 to 144 hours per quarter (s.7(2)(a)). Normal wages = basic plus allowances, excluding bonus.
- Full Act applies to establishments with 20 or more workers; smaller ones file an intimation within 6 months (s.13A).
- Weekly off day for each employee (s.11). A 24 Sep 2026 notification allows 24x7 opening for registered establishments, subject to all four Labour Codes.
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 10h 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) | 96 | 4 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 96 | 12 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 78 | 2 |
Breaks and lunch in Punjab
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 5 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
- Watchmen and guards are excepted. The Act does not say whether the break is paid.
- Spread-over raised from 10 to 12 hours in 2025.
- Because no stretch may exceed 5 hours, a day over 10 worked hours needs a second interval.
Pay by Punjab rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Punjab: 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 Punjab?
2x the normal hourly wage beyond 10 hours a day or 48 hours a week (s.7). Max 144 overtime hours a quarter.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Punjab?
Not allowed
What breaks are required in Punjab?
At least 30 minutes of rest after 5 hours of work (s.8(1)). Spread-over max 12 hours (s.8(2)).