Egyptian Labor Law: working hours and overtime, explained (2026)
By Sayed Zakrea · 25 June 2026 · Updated 1 October 2026
If you employ staff in Egypt, the Labor Law sets limits on working hours, requires weekly rest, and entitles employees to extra pay for overtime. Here is a plain-language overview — and, just as importantly, how to keep records that stand up when payroll, an employee, or an inspector asks questions.
Quick summary
- Normal hours: 8 per day, 48 per week across 6 days.
- Daily cap: 12 hours including any overtime; at least 1 hour of rest during the day; no more than 5 consecutive hours without a break.
- Daytime overtime (until 9pm): +35% above the normal hourly rate — 135% total.
- Night overtime (9pm–6am): +70% above the normal hourly rate — 170% total.
- Weekly rest day worked: double pay plus a substitute rest day the following week.
- Public holidays worked: extra pay up to 300%, depending on the role and sector.
Calculate your overtime
Enter the normal hourly rate (monthly basic salary ÷ the agreed working hours in your contract) and the overtime hours.
This is an estimate for illustration only. Want this calculated automatically for your whole team every month, tied to real attendance? Try Dawmly Payroll.
What counts as normal working hours?
Normal working hours in the private sector are 8 per day and 48 per week across 6 days, with at least one rest day per week and at least one hour of rest during the working day. The law also bars more than 5 consecutive hours without a break, and caps total daily hours (normal plus overtime) at 12. The exact working pattern can vary by sector and contract — so the practical takeaway is to agree it in writing and then record actual hours accurately against it.
How is overtime treated?
When an employee works beyond the agreed normal hours, the law entitles them to overtime pay above the normal hourly rate: 135% total for daytime overtime (until 9pm), and 170% total for night overtime (9pm-6am). Working the weekly rest day earns double pay plus a substitute rest day, and working a public holiday can reach 300%, depending on the role and sector. These rates apply under Labor Law No. 14 of 2025 — confirm any contract-specific terms.
Why accurate records matter
Overtime disputes almost always come down to evidence. If you cannot show exactly when an employee started and finished, you cannot prove the hours worked — and you cannot defend a payroll calculation. A reliable, timestamped record of every clock-in and clock-out protects both the business and the employee, and makes month-end payroll a calculation rather than an argument.
How to track hours and overtime reliably
Paper logs and Excel sheets break down quickly: they are easy to backfill, easy to lose, and impossible to audit. A check-in app records the exact in and out time of every shift, flags lateness, totals overtime automatically, and exports a payroll-ready report at month end. Dawmly does this with a GPS coordinate and timestamp on every punch (with selfie verification and offline punch queueing), and exports to CSV or Excel — so the hours behind every overtime payment are documented and defensible.
Frequently asked questions
What does the new Egyptian Labor Law say about overtime?
Law No. 14 of 2025 entitles employees to overtime pay for any hours worked beyond the agreed normal hours: +35% for daytime overtime (until 9pm) and +70% for night overtime (9pm-6am), on top of the normal hourly rate.
What is the law on additional working hours in Egypt?
Overtime is calculated on top of the normal hourly rate: 135% total for daytime overtime, 170% total for night overtime, double pay plus a substitute rest day for work on the weekly rest day, and up to 300% for work on public holidays.
How many working hours are allowed in the private sector?
8 hours per day and 48 per week across 6 days, with a 12-hour daily cap including any overtime, at least one hour of rest during the day, and no more than 5 consecutive hours without a break.
How many overtime hours are allowed per month?
The law sets a clear daily cap — total working and overtime hours combined cannot exceed 12 hours a day — but there is no generally stated fixed monthly overtime cap. For any exceptional arrangement, check your contract or consult your accountant.
Keep it simple
Agree the working pattern in writing, confirm the current overtime rates in the Labor Law, and record actual hours with a tool that timestamps every punch. Get those three right and working-hours compliance stops being a worry. Dawmly is free forever for up to 5 employees if you want to start recording hours properly today.