Overtime and Break Laws in Thailand (2026)
Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998), as amended · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
At least 1.5x the hourly rate for overtime on a working day (past 8 hours a day or 48 a week). Holiday overtime 3x.
Breaks and lunch
A rest period of at least 1 hour a day after no more than 5 consecutive hours. Unpaid.
Overtime in Thailand
- 1.5x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- Hazardous work: normal hours max 7 a day and 42 a week.
- Holiday work within normal hours: an extra 1x for staff paid on holidays (monthly), or 2x for daily and hourly staff. Overtime on a holiday: 3x.
- If the agreed day is under 8 hours, the shortfall can be made up on other days, up to 9 hours a day; past 8 hours that day is paid at 1.5x for daily and hourly staff.
- Overtime needs the employee's consent each time. Total overtime and holiday hours are capped by Ministerial Regulation (not verified here).
- At least one weekly holiday, no more than 6 days apart.
Averaging over a pay period: Not allowed beyond the 9-hour make-up rule.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 48h in a week, 1.5x after 8h 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) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 96 | 12 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Thailand
- Meal break: 1 × 60 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 5 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 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 hour can be split into shorter breaks by prior agreement, totalling at least 1 hour.
- Rest beyond 2 hours a day counts as working time.
- Before overtime of more than 2 hours, a rest of at least 20 minutes.
Pay by Thailand rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Thailand: 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 Thailand?
At least 1.5x the hourly rate for overtime on a working day (past 8 hours a day or 48 a week). Holiday overtime 3x.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Thailand?
Not allowed beyond the 9-hour make-up rule.
What breaks are required in Thailand?
A rest period of at least 1 hour a day after no more than 5 consecutive hours. Unpaid.