Overtime and Break Laws in Singapore (2026)
Employment Act 1968, Part 4 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
1.5x the hourly basic rate for work beyond contractual hours (up to 9 a day or 44 a week on a 5-day week). Only for Part 4 employees.
Breaks and lunch
No more than 6 consecutive hours without a break. Breaks are unpaid and not counted as hours of work.
Overtime in Singapore
- 1.5x pay for hours past 9 in a day.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 44 in a week.
- Part 4 covers non-workmen earning up to $2,600 basic a month and workmen earning up to $4,500. Managers and executives are not covered.
- Overtime for non-workmen is capped at the $2,600 salary level (hourly rate $13.60).
- Daily limit is 8 hours if working more than 5 days a week; rows use 9 for the common 5-day week.
- Max 72 overtime hours a month and 12 hours of work a day, unless MOM grants an exemption.
- Rest day or public holiday overtime: 1.5x for hours beyond normal daily hours, plus the rest day or holiday pay.
- Hourly basic rate for monthly-rated staff = (12 x monthly basic) / (52 x 44).
Averaging over a pay period: Allowed: up to 48 hours in a week capped at 88 in 2 weeks, or 12-hour shifts averaging 44 hours over 3 weeks.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 44h in a week, 1.5x after 9h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.5x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 88 | 12 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 88 | 20 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 74 | 6 |
Breaks and lunch in Singapore
- Meal break: 1 × 45 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 45 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 45 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 45 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 45 min, unpaid |
- If the work must run continuously for up to 8 hours, meal breaks must be given; MOM says breaks should be at least 45 minutes.
- One unpaid rest day a week (shift workers can have a 30-hour rest period instead).
Pay by Singapore rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Singapore: 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 Singapore?
1.5x the hourly basic rate for work beyond contractual hours (up to 9 a day or 44 a week on a 5-day week). Only for Part 4 employees.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Singapore?
Allowed: up to 48 hours in a week capped at 88 in 2 weeks, or 12-hour shifts averaging 44 hours over 3 weeks.
What breaks are required in Singapore?
No more than 6 consecutive hours without a break. Breaks are unpaid and not counted as hours of work.