Overtime and Break Laws in Japan (2026)
Labor Standards Act (Act No. 49 of 1947) · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
25% premium for hours past 8 a day or 40 a week. Overtime past 60 hours in a month is paid at 50%.
Breaks and lunch
A break of at least 45 minutes when work exceeds 6 hours, and 1 hour when it exceeds 8 hours.
Overtime in Japan
- 1.25x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 1.25x pay for hours past 40 in a week.
- Premiums: overtime 25%; overtime past 60 hours a month 50% (applies to SMEs too since 1 April 2023); statutory day-off work 35%; late night 10pm to 5am 25% extra (so night overtime 50%, night overtime past 60 hours 75%).
- Overtime needs a labour-management (Article 36) agreement. Caps: 45 hours a month and 360 a year; with special clauses, under 720 a year, under 100 a month incl. holiday work, and 80 average over 2 to 6 months; over 45 hours allowed at most 6 months a year.
- Some small retail, health, entertainment and restaurant businesses with under 10 regular staff may use a 44-hour week.
- Managers and supervisors are excluded from the hours and overtime rules (night premium still applies).
- Paid leave can replace the extra premium for overtime past 60 hours with a labour-management agreement.
Averaging over a pay period: Allowed via monthly or annual variable working hour systems or flextime, under work rules or a labour-management agreement.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.25x after 40h in a week, 1.25x after 8h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.25x) |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 80 | 28 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Japan
- Meal break: 1 × 45 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
- Meal break: 1 × 60 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 8 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 45 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
- The break must fall during working hours and is unpaid.
- At least one day off a week, or four days off in any four weeks.
Pay by Japan rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Japan: 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 Japan?
25% premium for hours past 8 a day or 40 a week. Overtime past 60 hours in a month is paid at 50%.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Japan?
Allowed via monthly or annual variable working hour systems or flextime, under work rules or a labour-management agreement.
What breaks are required in Japan?
A break of at least 45 minutes when work exceeds 6 hours, and 1 hour when it exceeds 8 hours.