In Sri Lanka, labor law establishes regulations for standard working hours to ensure employee well-being and fair compensation. The key aspects include:

Shop and Office Employees Act: This act dictates a maximum of 8 working hours per day and 45 working hours per week.

Factories Ordinance: Aligned with international standards, the Factories Ordinance sets a similar maximum of 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week for adult workers (above 18 years old).

There's a slight variation for employees between 16 and 18 years old. Their working hours cannot exceed 12 hours per day under the Factories Ordinance.

Sri Lankan employees are entitled to at least one and a half days of paid leave per week. This typically translates to a half-day on Saturday and a full day on Sunday.

Working beyond the standard hours qualifies as overtime. The Shop and Office Employees Act doesn't specify an overtime rate, but employers are legally obligated to compensate employees for overtime work.

The Wages Board Ordinance governs specific industries and may have different regulations. Employees who work on public holidays are entitled to compensatory leave.

In Sri Lanka, labor laws protect employee rights when working beyond standard hours. Any work performed outside the standard working hours qualifies as overtime.

The Shop and Office Employees Act doesn't specify a mandatory overtime rate, but it mandates employers to compensate employees for overtime work. The Minimum Wage Ordinance dictates that overtime pay should be at least one and a quarter times the normal pay rate. For specific industries, Wages Boards might set higher overtime pay rates. In the absence of a specific industry-determined rate, the minimum of 1.25 times the normal pay rate applies.

Sri Lankan law doesn't establish a strict limit on overtime hours per week. However, employers should ensure working conditions are reasonable and prioritize employee well-being.

Working on public holidays in Sri Lanka requires additional compensation or compensatory leave. Employees who work on public holidays are entitled to overtime pay at a rate not less than the overtime rate (typically 1.25 times the normal rate). In some cases, employees might receive a substitute holiday in lieu of overtime pay. The specific terms for working on public holidays, including compensation type, might be outlined in individual employment contracts.

Sri Lankan labor law acknowledges the significance of breaks and rest periods for the well-being and productivity of employees. Although there are no explicitly mandated break durations, there are specific regulations in place to ensure that reasonable breaks are provided.

The Shop and Office Employees Act doesn't specify break durations but implies entitlement to breaks by stating that working hours exclude "intervals allowed for rest or a meal". This implies that if an employee works for more than 5 hours a day, they should be provided with reasonable rest and meal breaks.

The exact duration and frequency of breaks might be determined by employer policy and industry practices. Many employers establish internal policies outlining break schedules and durations. These policies should comply with the spirit of the Shop and Office Employees Act by ensuring reasonable breaks for extended work periods. Certain industries might have established norms regarding break durations.

Women with infants under the age of one are entitled to additional nursing breaks besides the regular breaks provided by law.

In Sri Lanka, the labor framework recognizes the unique demands of night shifts and weekend work.

Night work is defined by the Department of Labour as any period of 11 consecutive hours falling between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM. Regulations stipulate that no person under 18 years old can be employed for night work. While women can be employed for night shifts, written permission from the Commissioner General of Labour is required. This permission is likely subject to ensuring proper safeguards and working conditions for female night workers. Night shift work doesn't negate the right to reasonable breaks as outlined in the Shop and Office Employees Act. Some employers might offer additional benefits or allowances for night shifts, but there's no legal mandate for such practices.

Sri Lankan employees are entitled to at least one and a half days of paid leave per week, typically translating to a half-day on Saturday and a full day on Sunday. Working on a designated weekly holiday qualifies as overtime work and requires compensation. The minimum overtime rate is 1.25 times the normal pay rate, though industry-specific regulations or individual employment contracts might dictate a higher rate. In some instances, employees might be offered a substitute holiday in lieu of overtime pay for working on a weekend.