Kuwait overtime rates at a glance
125%
Weekday Overtime
Hours worked beyond 8/day or 48/week on a regular working day. Article 66.
150%
Weekly Day Off
Working on your weekly rest day (Friday for most). Article 67. PLUS a compensatory day off.
200%
Public Holiday
Working on official Kuwait public holidays. Article 68. PLUS a compensatory day off.
How overtime is calculated
Kuwait overtime pay is built on three pieces: your hourly rate, the number of overtime hours worked, and the multiplier based on when those hours fall (weekday, day off, or holiday).
The formulas
→ Hourly rate = Monthly remuneration ÷ Working days per month ÷ 8
→ Weekday OT pay = Hourly rate × 1.25 × Hours worked
→ Day-off OT pay = Hourly rate × 1.50 × Hours worked (+ compensatory day off)
→ Holiday OT pay = Hourly rate × 2.00 × Hours worked (+ compensatory day off)
💡 Important: Under Article 67 of Kuwait Labor Law, "remuneration" includes basic salary plus all regular allowances (housing, transport, fixed bonuses) — not just basic salary. Many employers wrongly calculate OT on basic salary only. This is a legal violation reportable to MOSAL.
Why divide by actual working days?
Kuwait Labor Law (Article 67, paragraph 2) specifies that overtime is calculated by dividing your remuneration by your actual working days excluding the weekly rest days, even though those rest days are still paid. So if you work 26 days a month, your monthly salary is divided by 26 — not 30 — when computing your hourly rate. This makes your hourly rate higher and your OT pay more accurate.
Working-time and overtime caps
| Rule | Limit | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Standard working hours per day | 8 hours | Article 65 |
| Standard working hours per week | 48 hours | Article 65 |
| Working hours during Ramadan | 6 hrs/day · 36 hrs/week | Article 65 (all employees) |
| Break required after 5 hours | ≥ 1 hour | Article 64 |
| Maximum overtime per day | 2 hours | Article 66 |
| Maximum overtime per week | 6 hours (3 days) | Article 66 |
| Maximum overtime per year | 180 hours | Article 66 |
| Maximum overtime days per year | 90 days | Article 66 |
| Weekly rest day | Minimum 24 continuous hours | Article 67 |
| Right to refuse overtime | Yes — voluntary | Article 66 |
| Outdoor work ban (Jun–Aug) | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM | MOSAL annual decision |
Worked examples
Example 1 — Weekday OT (most common)
You earn KD 500/month in full remuneration and work 5 days a week (~22 working days/month). You work 10 extra hours over the month, all on regular weekdays.
- Hourly rate = 500 ÷ 22 ÷ 8 = KD 2.841/hr
- OT hourly rate = 2.841 × 1.25 = KD 3.551/hr
- Total OT pay = 3.551 × 10 = KD 35.51
Example 2 — Working on your day off
Same KD 500/month, 5-day week. Your employer asks you to come in on a Friday and you work 8 hours.
- Hourly rate = 500 ÷ 22 ÷ 8 = KD 2.841/hr
- OT hourly rate = 2.841 × 1.50 = KD 4.261/hr
- Total OT pay = 4.261 × 8 = KD 34.09
- PLUS a compensatory day off (mandatory, cannot be replaced with cash)
Example 3 — Public holiday work
Same KD 500/month, 5-day week. You work 6 hours on National Day (25 February).
- Hourly rate = 500 ÷ 22 ÷ 8 = KD 2.841/hr
- OT hourly rate = 2.841 × 2.00 = KD 5.682/hr
- Total OT pay = 5.682 × 6 = KD 34.09
- PLUS a compensatory day off
Kuwait public holidays for OT purposes (2026)
Working any of these days triggers the 200% rate plus a compensatory day off:
- New Year's Day — 1 January
- Isra' and Mi'raj — variable (Hijri)
- National Day — 25 February
- Liberation Day — 26 February
- Eid al-Fitr — 3 days (variable, Hijri)
- Arafat Day + Eid al-Adha — 4 days (variable, Hijri)
- Islamic (Hijri) New Year — variable
- Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid) — variable
Islamic dates depend on official moon-sighting decisions in Kuwait and may shift by 1–2 days.
Common OT mistakes employers make
⚠️
Mistake 1: Calculating OT on basic salary only. Article 67 requires full remuneration (basic + regular allowances). Demand a breakdown of how your OT was calculated and challenge underpayment.
⚠️
Mistake 2: Dividing by 30 instead of working days. Some employers divide your monthly salary by 30 to get a daily rate. The law says divide by your actual working days (typically 22 or 26) — using 30 gives you ~16% less than you're owed.
⚠️
Mistake 3: Replacing the day off with cash on Friday work. Working your rest day requires BOTH 150% pay AND a compensatory day off. Employers cannot legally swap the day off for extra cash.
⚠️
Mistake 4: Forcing OT beyond 2 hours/day or 180 hrs/year. These caps are statutory. Excess overtime is a violation regardless of whether the employee "agreed."
⚠️
Mistake 5: Including OT in indemnity calculation. Indemnity (end-of-service gratuity) is based on basic remuneration only, NOT on OT or one-off payments. If your employer inflates indemnity to "include" your OT, they may also be using a lower-than-legal basic.
How to claim unpaid overtime
If your employer refuses to pay overtime owed, follow these steps:
- Gather evidence — timesheets, attendance app records, WhatsApp messages requesting OT, emails confirming work outside normal hours.
- Calculate the amount owed using this calculator and keep the breakdown.
- Send a written demand to HR/employer (email or registered letter) stating the amounts and Articles 66–68 of Kuwait Labor Law.
- If unresolved within 30 days, file a complaint at the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labour (MOSAL) — they have offices in each governorate.
- MOSAL mediation usually resolves disputes within 60–90 days. If not, the case can be referred to the Labour Court free of charge.
💡 Labour cases are free of court fees for employees in Kuwait. You don't need a lawyer for MOSAL mediation but having one helps if the case goes to court.
Related tools & guides
🧮Indemnity Calculator
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🪪Residency Guide
🆔Civil ID
📱Sahel App
FAQs — Kuwait OT Calculator
How is overtime calculated in Kuwait?
▾Weekday overtime = 125% of hourly rate. Day-off overtime = 150% + compensatory day off. Public-holiday overtime = 200% + compensatory day off. Hourly rate = monthly remuneration ÷ working days ÷ 8.
What is the overtime rate in Kuwait per hour?
▾1.25× normal rate weekdays. 1.5× on your weekly day off. 2× on official public holidays. Based on full remuneration, not basic salary alone.
How many overtime hours can I work in Kuwait?
▾Cap: 2 hours per day, 6 hours per week (3 days), 180 hours per year. Employees can refuse OT beyond these limits. Senior managers may be exempt.
Is overtime calculated on basic salary or full salary in Kuwait?
▾On full remuneration — basic plus regular allowances (housing, transport, etc.) — per Article 67. Employers paying OT on basic only may be violating the law.
Do I get extra pay if I work on Friday in Kuwait?
▾Yes. Friday is the standard weekly rest day. Working Friday = 150% of hourly pay + a compensatory day off. Both are mandatory (Article 67).
What are the standard working hours in Kuwait?
▾8 hours per day, 48 hours per week. Ramadan: 6 hours/day, 36 hours/week for all employees. Any extra hours, with employer request, is overtime.
Can I refuse overtime work in Kuwait?
▾Yes. OT is voluntary except in defined emergency cases. Forcing OT or exceeding the legal caps is a violation reportable to MOSAL.
Does overtime count toward indemnity / end-of-service in Kuwait?
▾No. Indemnity is calculated on basic remuneration only, not on overtime, bonuses or one-off payments.
Last updated: May 2026. Based on Articles 65, 66, 67, 68 of Kuwait Labor Law No. 6 of 2010 (as amended). Calculator results are estimates — your actual entitlement may vary based on your specific contract and circumstances. For disputes, consult MOSAL or a qualified Kuwait labour-law advisor. KuwaitCalculator.com is not affiliated with any government entity.