Overtime and Break Laws in Tamil Nadu (2026)
Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
2x the ordinary rate for work over 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week (ss.9, 14, 31). Max 10.5 hours a day and 57 hours a week including overtime.
Breaks and lunch
No more than 4 hours of work before a rest interval of at least 1 hour (ss.9(2), 14(2)). Spread-over max 12 hours (ss.10, 15).
Overtime in Tamil Nadu
- 2x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 2x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- Shops (s.9) and other establishments, including offices and restaurants (s.14), have the same limits.
- Total including overtime: 10.5 hours a day and 57 hours a week (amended by Act 27 of 2018). No quarterly or annual overtime cap was found in the Act.
- One whole day off a week (ss.11, 16). Young persons: max 7 hours a day, 42 a week, no overtime (s.19).
- Managerial staff, travelling staff, canvassers and caretakers are exempt (s.4). Registration needed at 10+ workers; smaller ones file an intimation.
- A 2026 notification extending 24x7 opening for 3 years repeats the 8/48 and 10.5/57 limits (secondary source).
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 Tamil Nadu
- 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 Tamil Nadu rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Tamil Nadu: 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 Tamil Nadu?
2x the ordinary rate for work over 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week (ss.9, 14, 31). Max 10.5 hours a day and 57 hours a week including overtime.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Tamil Nadu?
Not allowed
What breaks are required in Tamil Nadu?
No more than 4 hours of work before a rest interval of at least 1 hour (ss.9(2), 14(2)). Spread-over max 12 hours (ss.10, 15).