What Myanmar law says
Yes — overtime is capped per week. Myanmar law sets a total weekly ceiling of approximately 60 hours including OT under both the Factories Act 1951 and the Shops & Establishments Act. With a 48-hour factory week or 44-hour office week, that leaves roughly 12 to 16 hours of OT capacity per week, with a typical daily OT cap of about 4 hours.
Sectoral notifications adjust the cap for specific industries — continuous-process plants, hospitals, and certain export-oriented operations may have higher or differently structured caps. The total-cap principle — that regular plus OT hours cannot create unrestricted workdays — is the consistent rule.
Weekly OT-cap rules
| Workplace | Standard week | Total cap incl. OT | Implied weekly OT capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory (Factories Act 1951) | 48 hrs | ~60 hrs | ~12 hrs |
| Office / retail (S&E Act) | 44 hrs | ~60 hrs | ~16 hrs |
| Daily OT cap (typical) | — | ~4 hrs/day | — |
Edge cases
- Continuous-process exemptions — chemical, cement, and similar sectors may have differently structured caps under notifications.
- Hospital / medical-services — sector-specific caps for clinical staff.
- Export garment factories — international buyer codes (e.g., 60-hour total) often align with or are stricter than the statutory cap.
- Salaried "exempt" staff — Myanmar law generally does not have a US-style exempt category; the cap applies regardless of pay structure for non-managerial roles.
- Voluntary overtime — employees cannot waive the weekly cap; the duty sits on the employer.
Records and inspections
The OT authorisation log and attendance register must show daily and weekly OT totals per employee. The township labour office reviews these during inspection and flags any employee crossing 60 hours per week. Sector exemption letters must be on file for any extended-cap operation. Retention ≥ 7 years.
Employer takeaway
Yes, weekly OT is capped. Total weekly hours including OT cannot exceed approximately 60 under both the Factories Act 1951 and S&E Act, and daily OT typically caps at around 4 hours. Track running OT totals weekly per employee. Confirm any sector exemption in writing with the township labour office. Retain OT logs for 7 years; the labour office targets the OT log most heavily during inspection.
Common mistakes
- Letting weekly hours exceed 60 during peak season "because the team agreed".
- Tracking only daily OT and missing the weekly-running-total view.
- Assuming salaried staff are exempt from the cap — Myanmar generally has no exempt category.
- Operating at extended caps without the supporting sector notification.
Related reading: monthly OT cap, daily working-hour cap, and how OT is authorised.
We publish practical, legally-grounded HR guidance for Myanmar employers. Each piece is reviewed by our compliance team against current MLIP and Labor Law requirements.