This page was last updated on:
2023-05-16
Overtime Compensation
As specified under the National Minimum Wage Act, Normal full time working hours are forty hours per week. However, the Labour Act does not specify general working hours rather these are fixed by the mutual agreement or collective bargaining within the enterprise or industry. Where there is no machinery for collective bargaining, the general working hours may be fixed by an industrial wages board.
If the worker has to work more than the fixed normal working hours, it is considered as an overtime. There is no statutory provision on the overtime work limit and overtime pay. Overtime compensation is entirely a matter of mutual agreement (employment contract), collective bargaining agreement or an order by the industrial wages board.
Sources: §13(1-2) & 59(8) of the Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004); National Minimum Wage Act, 1981
Night Work Compensation
Night time for industrial undertakings is a defined as period of eleven consecutive hours (in some cases, the period is reduced to ten hours) including the time between 22:00 to 05:00. For agricultural undertakings, night is a period of nine consecutive hours including the interval between 21:00 to 04:00.
Night period for young workers (under the age of sixteen years) is the period of twelve consecutive hours including the interval between 22:00 to 06:00. For workers between sixteen to eighteen years of age, night is seven consecutive hours’ period including time interval between 22:00 to 07:00.
There is no statutory provision regarding compensation for the night time work. However, premium rate for pay can be adjusted by mutual agreement, collective bargaining or an order by the industrial wages board.
Sources: §55(3) & 60(4) of the Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004)
Compensatory Holidays / Rest Days
Workers can be engaged on certain tasks during the weekly rest periods and public holidays. In extraordinary circumstances, workers may perform work on weekly rest days and public holidays. In such cases, worker is entitled to a day off within fourteen days in lieu of work done or a monetary compensation according to overtime rates (specified under employment contract, collective agreement or an order by industrial wages board) is paid.
As an alternative, workers are entitled to payment for their work in addition to their normal pay for that day according to the pay rate that applies to overtime work.
Source: §13 (7) of the Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004); §6 of the Public Holiday Act 1979
Weekend / Public Holiday Work Compensation
Workers may be required to work on weekly rest days and public holidays. In such circumstances when employee has to work on official holidays or weekly rest days, employee is entitled to the payment of work done in addition to their normal pay according to the pay rate that applies to overtime work. The other alternative is corresponding time-off from work which should be allowed as soon as possible (within 14 days).
Source: §13 (7) of the Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004); §6 of the Public Holiday Act 1979
