Overtime and Break Laws in Ireland (2026)
Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
No statutory overtime premium. There is no legal right to extra pay for overtime; rates come from the contract or sector agreements.
Breaks and lunch
A 15-minute break after more than 4.5 hours and a 30-minute break after more than 6 hours (the 30 can include the first 15). Breaks are unpaid unless the contract says otherwise.
Overtime in Ireland
The law sets no overtime premium of its own here. What overtime pays is up to the employment contract or the collective agreement.
- Some sectors have higher overtime rates set by Employment Regulation Orders and Registered Employment Agreements.
- Maximum average working week is 48 hours, normally averaged over a 4-month (17-week) reference period, longer in some sectors or by approved agreement (up to 12 months).
- Sunday work must be compensated (allowance, extra pay, paid time off or a mix) if the contract does not already cover it.
Averaging over a pay period: The 48-hour limit is averaged, normally over 4 months; 6 or 12 months in some cases.
Breaks and lunch in Ireland
- Rest break: 1 × 15 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 4.5 hours or more.
- Rest break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | 1 × 30 min, unpaid | None |
| 8 hours | 1 × 30 min, unpaid | None |
| 10 hours | 1 × 30 min, unpaid | None |
| 12 hours | 1 × 30 min, unpaid | None |
- The break should not be at the end of the working day.
- Shop workers working more than 6 hours spanning 11.30am to 2.30pm get a one-hour consecutive break in that window.
- Daily rest of 11 consecutive hours in any 24 hours.
- Weekly rest of 24 consecutive hours in any 7 days (or two 24-hour periods the following week), normally including Sunday.
- Some workers are excluded but get compensatory rest instead.
Pay by Ireland rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Ireland: 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 Ireland?
No statutory overtime premium. There is no legal right to extra pay for overtime; rates come from the contract or sector agreements.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Ireland?
The 48-hour limit is averaged, normally over 4 months; 6 or 12 months in some cases.
What breaks are required in Ireland?
A 15-minute break after more than 4.5 hours and a 30-minute break after more than 6 hours (the 30 can include the first 15). Breaks are unpaid unless the contract says otherwise.