Orario di lavoro in Bangladesh

Navigating employment regulations in Bangladesh requires a clear understanding of the legal framework governing working hours and employee entitlements. The primary legislation setting out these rules is the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, which aims to protect workers by establishing limits on daily and weekly working hours, mandating rest periods, and ensuring fair compensation for work performed beyond the standard limits. Compliance with these regulations is crucial for businesses operating in Bangladesh to ensure legal adherence and maintain positive employee relations.

Understanding the specific requirements for standard hours, overtime, rest, and record-keeping is essential for employers. These rules dictate the structure of the workweek, how additional hours are compensated, and the minimum time employees must have for rest and breaks. Adhering to these provisions helps prevent disputes and ensures a compliant operational environment for companies employing staff in Bangladesh.

Standard Working Hours and Workweek Structure

The standard working hours in Bangladesh are defined by law. Generally, an adult worker should not be required or allowed to work for more than eight hours in any day. The total working hours in a week are also capped.

Daily Limit: 8 hours
Weekly Limit: 48 hours

The law permits some flexibility, allowing for a maximum of ten hours of work on any given day, provided the average weekly hours over a period of time (typically a quarter) do not exceed 48 hours. The standard workweek is typically six days, with one full day designated as a weekly rest day.

Overtime Regulations and Compensation

When employees work beyond the standard eight hours per day or 48 hours per week, these additional hours are considered overtime. The Labour Act specifies limits on the maximum amount of overtime an employee can work and mandates a higher rate of pay for these hours.

The total working hours, including overtime, must not exceed 60 hours in any week. Furthermore, the total overtime hours for any worker in a year are limited.

Overtime compensation is legally required at a rate higher than the ordinary rate of wages.

Tipo di lavoro	Tasso di retribuzione
Ore ordinarie	Tariffa salariale standard
Ore di straordinario	Doppio della tariffa normale di paga di base e indennità di dearness

This means that for every hour of overtime worked, an employee must be paid at least double their standard hourly rate, calculated based on their basic pay and dearness allowance components.

Rest Periods and Break Entitlements

Ensuring adequate rest is a key component of Bangladesh's labour law. Employees are entitled to mandatory breaks during their workday and a full day of rest each week.

For a worker engaged in a six-day workweek, one full day must be provided as a weekly rest day. This day is typically Sunday, but it can be another day depending on the nature of the establishment and local custom, provided it is consistently observed.

During the workday, employees are entitled to intervals for rest or meals. The duration of these intervals depends on the total hours worked in a day.

Ore lavorate giornalmente	Intervallo minimo di riposo/pasto
Più di 5 ore	1 ora
Più di 6 ore	1 ora (può essere suddivisa in due periodi, uno dei quali deve essere di almeno 30 minuti)
Fino a 6 ore	Nessun intervallo obbligatorio specificato, ma pause ragionevoli sono implicite

These intervals are not considered part of the working hours.

Night Shift and Weekend Work Regulations

While the standard workweek includes a weekly rest day, specific regulations apply to work performed during night shifts or on designated rest days (weekends).

Working on the designated weekly rest day is generally prohibited unless specific conditions are met, such as in continuous process industries or essential services, and with proper authorization and compensatory rest days provided. If an employee is required to work on their rest day, they are typically entitled to a compensatory rest day within a specified period, in addition to potentially receiving overtime pay for the hours worked on that day, depending on the specific circumstances and agreements.

Night shift work is permitted, but employers must adhere to the maximum daily and weekly hour limits. There are no specific higher pay rates mandated solely for night shifts under the general Labour Act, although industry-specific rules or collective agreements might provide for such. The primary concern remains ensuring total hours, including night work, do not exceed legal limits and that employees receive required rest periods.

Obblighi di registrazione dell'orario di lavoro

Employers in Bangladesh have a legal obligation to maintain accurate records of the working hours of their employees. This is crucial for demonstrating compliance with the Labour Act regarding standard hours, overtime, rest periods, and leave entitlements.

Key records that employers must maintain include:

Register dei Lavoratori: Dettagli di tutti i dipendenti.
Register delle Ore di Lavoro: Ore giornaliere e settimanali lavorate da ogni dipendente, inclusi orari di inizio e fine e intervalli di pausa.
Register di Straordinario: Dettagli di tutte le ore di straordinario lavorate da ogni dipendente.
Register delle Paga: Registri delle retribuzioni pagate, inclusa la retribuzione di straordinario.
Register di Congedo: Registri delle ferie prese dai dipendenti.

Questi registri devono essere aggiornati e disponibili per ispezioni da parte delle autorità del lavoro. La registrazione accurata è fondamentale per garantire trasparenza e conformità a tutti gli aspetti delle normative sul tempo di lavoro in Bangladesh.