Rivermate | Saint Pierre and Miquelon flag

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Working Hours and Overtime Regulations

Understand the laws governing work hours and overtime in Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Rivermate | Saint Pierre and Miquelon landscape

Standard working hours

Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, a French overseas collectivity, adheres to the French Labour Code (Code du travail) with some local adaptations. The standard workweek in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon is 35 hours, as stipulated in Article L.3111-1 of the French Labour Code.

While the Labour Code doesn't specify a daily maximum, Article L.3121-1 establishes a limit of 10 working hours per day, averaged over a reference period determined by collective agreement or company agreement.

Collective bargaining agreements negotiated between employer organizations and employee unions can establish different working hour arrangements within the legal framework provided by the Labour Code.

Overtime

Overtime work is any work performed by an employee outside their regular working hours, as defined by their employment contract or collective agreement. Saint Pierre and Miquelon's labor laws closely adhere to French metropolitan regulations on overtime.

The primary legislation governing overtime work in Saint Pierre and Miquelon is the French Labor Code (Code du travail). These articles are further elaborated on by collective agreements negotiated between employers' organizations and employee unions within specific sectors.

The standard work week in Saint Pierre and Miquelon is 35 hours, averaged over a defined period. Any work exceeding 35 hours per week is considered overtime. Certain sectors or specific agreements might have different workweek thresholds established by collective bargaining agreements.

Overtime work is generally compensated at a higher rate than regular salary. The overtime pay rate is typically 1.25 times the regular hourly rate for the first 8 hours of overtime and 1.5 times the regular rate for any subsequent overtime hours. In some cases, employees may be offered compensatory rest time instead of or alongside financial compensation for overtime work. The amount of rest time should be equal to the overtime hours worked. Collective agreements may establish different overtime pay rates or calculation methods.

Employers are required to maintain detailed records of all overtime work performed by their employees. These records should include dates and duration of overtime work, compensation paid (including overtime pay rate), and reasons for overtime work. These records must be kept available for inspection by labor authorities for a minimum period of 3 years.

There are legal limits on the amount of overtime work an employee can perform in a specific period. These limits are typically established by collective agreements. While employers can request overtime work, employees generally have the right to refuse overtime unless there are exceptional circumstances (e.g., emergencies).

For the most up-to-date information and specific details regarding a particular industry or employer, it's recommended to consult the relevant collective agreements or seek guidance from the Territorial Directorate for Labor in Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Rest periods and breaks

In Saint Pierre and Miquelon, an overseas territory of France, labor laws specific to mainland France apply with some adjustments. Here's a breakdown of rest periods and breaks for workers in this region:

Daily Rest Periods

  • Minimum daily rest period: Workers are entitled to 11 consecutive hours of rest between the end of one workday and the beginning of the next.

Meal Breaks

  • Right to a meal break: All employees have the right to a meal break during the workday.
  • Minimum meal break duration: The minimum duration of the meal break is not legally mandated but is typically between 30 minutes and 1 hour, depending on the industry and collective bargaining agreements.
  • Employer responsibilities: Employers are not required to pay employees for their meal break time unless stipulated in a collective agreement.

Night shift and weekend regulations

Night shift and weekend work in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are subject to regulations outlined in the French Labor Code, specifically Part Two: Working Time and Remuneration.

Night work is generally defined as work performed within a specific timeframe, which can be adjusted through collective agreements. Employers must prioritize voluntary night work. Pregnant women or workers under 18 cannot be assigned night work without their consent. Night work typically warrants increased pay or compensatory rest time. The specific amount of compensation can be determined by collective agreements or individual employment contracts.

The French Labor Code guarantees a minimum of one day of rest per week, which typically falls on Sundays. Weekend work can be authorized under specific circumstances, such as for certain industries or continuous operations. However, employer authorization requires prior consultation with employee representatives. Similar to night work, weekend work usually requires compensatory rest or increased pay. The specifics are determined through collective agreements or employment contracts.

It's crucial to consult the latest version of the French Labor Code and any relevant collective agreements for the most up-to-date regulations on night shift and weekend work in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

Rivermate | A 3d rendering of earth

Hire your employees globally with confidence

We're here to help you on your global hiring journey.