Navigating labor regulations is essential for businesses operating in Mozambique. Understanding the rules governing working hours, overtime, and rest periods is crucial for ensuring compliance, maintaining fair labor practices, and avoiding potential legal issues. Mozambique's labor law sets clear standards for employee working time, designed to protect employee well-being while providing a framework for productive employment relationships.
These regulations define the standard workweek, specify limits on daily and weekly working hours, and outline the conditions under which overtime can be worked and how it must be compensated. Employers are also required to provide adequate rest periods and breaks, and specific rules apply to work performed during night hours or on weekends. Adhering to these requirements is a fundamental aspect of managing a workforce in Mozambique.
Standard Working Hours and Workweek
The standard working time in Mozambique is generally set by law. The maximum normal working hours are defined on both a daily and weekly basis.
- Maximum Daily Hours: Typically 8 hours per day.
- Maximum Weekly Hours: Typically 40 hours per week.
The standard workweek usually spans five days, though variations may exist based on collective bargaining agreements or specific industry regulations, provided they do not exceed the maximum weekly limit.
Overtime Regulations and Compensation
Work performed beyond the standard daily or weekly hours is considered overtime and is subject to specific regulations and compensation rates. Overtime should generally be limited and is often subject to employee consent, though exceptions may apply in urgent circumstances.
There are limits on the amount of overtime an employee can work:
- Maximum Daily Overtime: Generally limited to 2 hours per day.
- Maximum Annual Overtime: Specific annual limits may apply, often around 100 hours per year per employee, though this can vary.
Overtime compensation rates are mandated by law and depend on when the overtime is worked. These rates are calculated as a percentage increase over the normal hourly wage.
| Overtime Period | Compensation Rate (Increase over normal hourly wage) |
|---|---|
| Weekdays (Daytime) | 50% |
| Weekdays (Nighttime) | 75% |
| Rest Days (Weekends) | 100% |
| Public Holidays | 100% |
Note: Nighttime typically refers to hours between 8:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
Rest Periods and Breaks
Employees are entitled to mandatory rest periods to ensure adequate recovery. These include daily breaks during the workday and weekly rest days.
- Daily Break: Employees working more than a certain number of hours (e.g., 5 or 6 hours) are entitled to a break, typically at least 30 minutes, which may or may not be paid depending on its duration and whether it can be freely used by the employee.
- Daily Rest Period: A minimum continuous rest period is required between the end of one workday and the start of the next, typically 11 consecutive hours.
- Weekly Rest Period: Employees are entitled to a minimum continuous weekly rest period, typically 24 consecutive hours, usually coinciding with Sunday.
Night Shift and Weekend Work
Work performed during night hours (typically 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM) or on the designated weekly rest day (usually Sunday) or public holidays is subject to specific rules and higher compensation rates, as indicated in the overtime table above. Night work may also have specific health and safety considerations. Working on rest days or public holidays is generally restricted and requires premium pay.
Working Time Recording Obligations
Employers in Mozambique are legally required to maintain accurate records of employee working hours. This is essential for demonstrating compliance with standard hour limits, overtime regulations, and rest period entitlements.
Employer obligations include:
- Maintaining a register or system that records the start and end times of work for each employee daily.
- Recording all overtime hours worked.
- Making these records available for inspection by relevant labor authorities.
- Ensuring employees are aware of their recorded hours.
Accurate record-keeping is a critical compliance requirement and serves as the primary evidence in case of disputes regarding working time or overtime pay.
