- What Is a Working Hours Calculator?
- What Are the Working Hours Rules in India?
- How to Calculate Your Working Hours?
- Why Use a Working Hours Calculator?
- How to Invest Your Money and Build Wealth?
Keeping track of your work hours isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. In India, your rights around working hours, breaks, leave, and overtime are protected under the Factories Act, 1948 and Shops and Establishments Acts (which vary by state).
Whether you're a full-time employee at a tech firm in Bengaluru, a part-time tutor in Delhi, or a contract worker in Mumbai, tracking your work time ensures you’re paid fairly and treated legally.
Need a fast and reliable way to calculate your working hours or check if you're owed overtime?
Use our free Working Hours Calculator to get started.
What Is a Working Hours Calculator?
A working hours calculator helps you track the hours you've worked over a day, week, or month. It’s useful for:
- Verifying if your salary or wages match your hours worked
- Identifying unpaid overtime
- Monitoring compliance with your job contract
- Ensuring your work time is within legal limits
Whether you’re a delivery executive in Pune, a BPO employee in Hyderabad, or a nurse in Chennai, this tool is designed for working Indians to take control of their time and earnings.
What Are the Working Hours Rules in India?
Standard Working Hours
Under Indian labour law:
- The maximum working hours per day is 9 hours
- The weekly limit is 48 hours
- Overtime should not exceed 50 hours per quarter (as per Section 64 of the Factories Act)
- Most full-time employees work 40–48 hours a week, depending on their industry and employment terms
Good to know
IT/ITES sector workers often have more flexible terms under special economic zones (SEZs).
Break Entitlements
Employees are entitled to breaks under Indian laws:
- At least a 30-minute break after 5 hours of continuous work
- At least 12 hours of rest between two shifts
- One full day off per week (typically Sunday, though it can vary)
Your company policy or employment agreement may offer better terms, so always check your contract.
Overtime Pay in India
Overtime is required to be paid at twice the regular wage as per Section 59 of the Factories Act. This applies if you:
- Work more than 9 hours a day or
- Work more than 48 hours in a week
For example
If you earn ₹200/hour and work 52 hours in a week:
Regular pay = 48 × ₹200 = ₹9,600
Overtime (4 hrs) = 4 × ₹400 = ₹1,600
Total Pay = ₹11,200
Rules may differ slightly based on your state and type of employment (organised or unorganised sector). Always refer to your applicable state Shops and Establishments Act.
Who Is Exempt from Working Time Limits?
Some roles may be partially or fully exempt from work hour restrictions:
- Senior management
- Field staff (e.g., sales representatives)
- Defence personnel, police and emergency services
- Self-employed or freelance professionals
Refer to your state’s Shops and Establishments Act or the Code on Wages, 2019 for more details.
Full-Time vs. Part-Time Work in India
- Full-time: Typically 40–48 hours per week with fixed benefits like PF, ESIC, paid leaves, etc.
- Part-time: Fewer hours than full-time but may still be eligible for proportional benefits under the Code on Social Security, 2020.
What’s the Minimum Shift Rule?
Some Indian states, such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, have regulations ensuring minimum hours of pay. For example:
If an employee is called in for duty but sent back early, they are entitled to a minimum of 4 hours of pay (actual limits may vary by state).
This is especially important for hospitality staff, gig workers, or casual employees.
How to Calculate Your Working Hours?
Use our calculator to compute:
- Daily hours = (End time – Start time) – unpaid breaks
- Weekly hours = Sum of daily hours
- Monthly or Annual hours = Weekly hours × number of work weeks
For example
Worked from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a 1-hour lunch break
Daily = 8 hours
Weekly (6 days) = 8 × 6 = 48 hours
Why Use a Working Hours Calculator?
It helps you:
- Keep personal time records
- Track unpaid or extra overtime
- Support a labour dispute or salary negotiation
- Ensure fair compliance under Indian labour laws
- Budget your monthly income better
Example: Indian Timesheet Template
Here’s a 40-hour workweek example for a full-time employee working 8 hours/day:
Date | Start Time | End Time | Break (hrs) | Total Hours | Overtime |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
01/04/2025 | 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1.0 | 8.0 | 0.0 |
02/04/2025 | 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1.0 | 8.0 | 0.0 |
03/04/2025 | 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1.0 | 8.0 | 0.0 |
04/04/2025 | 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1.0 | 8.0 | 0.0 |
05/04/2025 | 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 1.0 | 8.0 | 0.0 |
Total Weekly Hours = 40
If your contract states 36 hours/week, this timesheet reflects 4 hours of overtime.
Sample 12-Hour Shift Schedule (For Hospitals/Factories)
For sectors with 12-hour shifts, here's a sample tracker:
Day | Start Time | End Time |
---|---|---|
Monday | 6:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
Tuesday | 6:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
Wednesday | 6:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
Thursday | 6:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
Friday | 6:00 AM | 6:00 PM |
Saturday | – | – |
Sunday | – | – |
How to Invest Your Money and Build Wealth?
Tracking your hours is just the first step. Once you're in control of your income, the next step is to make it grow.
In India, more people are exploring investment options such as:
- Mutual Funds and SIPs
- Public Provident Fund (PPF)
- National Pension Scheme (NPS)
- Stocks and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
- Digital Gold and Real Estate
Whether you're starting with ₹500 a month or managing a larger portfolio, our India Investment Guide can help you make informed decisions and grow your wealth responsibly.