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Overtime calculator Zambia

Enter your basic pay and the extra hours you worked in the month to see what your employer owes you.

The rules come from sections 74 and 75 of the Employment Code Act, 2019.

How it's calculated

Your hourly rate is your monthly basic pay divided by 208 hours, or by 240 hours if you are a watchperson or guard.
Hours above 48 hours a week (60 hours for guards) are paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate.
Hours on a public holiday or weekly rest day that is not part of your normal working week are paid at 2 times the hourly rate.

An example

On basic pay of K2,080 the hourly rate is K10. Ten overtime hours earn K150 and eight hours on a public holiday earn K160, K310 in total.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a normal working day?

A full-time employee's normal day is eight hours of actual work.

Can my employer ask me to work extra hours without pay?

Only if you agree and your total stays within 48 hours a week, or a lower limit in your contract or collective agreement. Above that, overtime has to be paid.

What breaks am I entitled to?

A one hour meal break each working day, plus one health break of at least 20 minutes or two of at least 10 minutes, unless your contract gives you more.

Key terms

Hourly rate: Monthly basic pay divided by the hours the Employment Code sets for your job.
Weekly rest day: At least 24 hours in a row off work in every seven days.

The same calculation in other countries

Up-to-date official data

Data checked against the official source on 26 October 2026.

We check the official sources automatically, every day.

Ministry of Labour and Social SecurityThe Employment Code Act, No. 3 of 2019

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