BCEA Overtime Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate BCEA overtime — 1.5x beyond 45 ordinary weekly hours (or your agreed lower hours), 2x for Sundays worked by non-Sunday workers, and the earnings threshold above which the protections fall away.
Quick answer: South Africa: ordinary hours cap at 45/week; overtime pays 1.5x (max 10 OT hours/week, by agreement), Sunday work pays 2x (1.5x if you normally work Sundays). Employees above the BCEA earnings threshold (~R254k/yr — verify) lose these automatic rights.
The BCEA Rules
| Ordinary hours | Max 45/week (9/day on a 5-day pattern) |
| Overtime rate | 1.5x — by agreement only, capped at 10 OT hrs/week (extendable to 15 by collective agreement) |
| Sunday work | 2x (1.5x for ordinary Sunday workers) — with a minimum payment equal to a full day in some cases |
| Public holidays | 2x if worked (see the holiday page) |
| Night work (18:00-06:00) | Allowance or shift reduction required, by agreement |
| Earnings threshold | Above ~R254,371/yr (verify current): OT/Sunday/night sections don’t apply automatically — contract governs |
Worked Example
R85/hour, 50 hours incl. 4 Sunday hours (non-Sunday worker): 41 ordinary... effectively 45 ordinary-cap hours and 5 OT × R127.50 + Sunday 4 × R170 upgrade — the calculator applies the greater-benefit logic per hour without double counting.
Agreement Matters
BCEA overtime is voluntary — no agreement, no compulsion (and no OT work). Standing contract clauses count as agreement; time-off-in-lieu at 1.5x can substitute by agreement.
Enforcement
CCMA/Department of Employment and Labour claims recover unpaid OT with interest; payslips must itemize OT hours (BCEA record rules). Above-threshold employees negotiate contractually — put OT terms IN the contract because the Act won’t backstop you. Related exits: retrenchment severance and leave payouts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overtime rate in South Africa?
1.5x past 45 ordinary weekly hours (by agreement, max 10 OT hrs/week); Sundays 2x for non-Sunday workers, 1.5x for ordinary Sunday staff.
Who is excluded from BCEA overtime?
Employees above the earnings threshold (~R254k/yr — verify current), senior managers, and sales staff who set their own hours — their contracts govern instead.
Can my employer force overtime?
Only with agreement (contract clause or otherwise) — and within the 10-hour weekly cap; refusal without agreement is protected.
How is Sunday pay calculated?
Double your rate if Sunday isn’t an ordinary workday (1.5x if it is), with minimum-payment rules for short shifts.
Can overtime be taken as time off?
Yes — paid time off at 1.5x the OT hours by agreement, within BCEA timeframes.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026