- Rate: at least twice the normal rate of wages (Code on Wages s. 14 and OSH Code s. 27). Normal rate means basic plus DA (wages), not gross.
- Trigger: work beyond 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week, with the daily or weekly limit as the Rules provide.
- Consent: overtime requires the worker's consent (OSH Code s. 27).
- Limits: the appropriate government fixes the total overtime allowed in a quarter. The OSH (Central) Rules, 2026 refer to 144 hours in a quarter, and several States had already raised their factory limit to 125 or 144 hours. Check your State's rule.
- Register: record overtime in the register of wages (Form II under the Central Wages Rules) or the combined register.
The HR desk lets you set the daily hours limit and the quarterly overtime limit for each establishment. It then flags:
- any day worked beyond the daily limit;
- any month whose overtime is high against the quarterly limit;
- the running total for the quarter, once the earlier months are processed.
Last reviewed 17-10-2026. General information, not legal advice for a specific case. Check the latest Act, Rules and notifications of the appropriate government before acting.