Working time is governed by the Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz, ArbZG) – for full-time, part-time and minijobs alike. Your contract or a collective agreement can give you better terms, but not worse. Stricter rules apply to under-18s.
How many hours a day?
- The basic limit is eight hours per working day (Monday to Saturday), so 48 hours a week.
- Up to ten hours a day are allowed if you average no more than eight hours a day over six months or 24 weeks.
- More than ten hours only in exceptional cases, such as emergencies or special collective agreements.
- Hours from several jobs are added together.
Breaks
- More than six hours of work: at least 30 minutes of break. More than nine hours: at least 45 minutes.
- Breaks can be split into blocks of at least 15 minutes – but not at the start or end of the shift.
- You may not work more than six hours in a row without a break.
- Breaks are usually unpaid unless your contract says otherwise.
Rest between shifts
- You need at least eleven hours of uninterrupted rest between two working days. If your shift ends at 11 pm, the next should not start before 10 am.
- In hospitals, care, hospitality and hotels this can be reduced to ten hours if it is made up elsewhere.
Sundays and public holidays
- Work on Sundays and public holidays is generally not allowed – with many exceptions, for example in hospitality, care, security and transport.
- If you work on a Sunday, you get a replacement day off within two weeks. At least 15 Sundays a year must stay free.
- The law does not generally require extra pay for Sundays, holidays or nights, but many contracts and collective agreements include it. For night work (11 pm to 6 am) the law requires an appropriate supplement or extra days off.
Does overtime have to be paid?
- You only have to work overtime if your contract, collective agreement or works agreement provides for it – or in genuine emergencies.
- Overtime that your employer orders or knowingly accepts must be paid or compensated with time off.
- Clauses like “overtime is covered by the salary” are only valid if they say how many hours are covered (for example “up to ten hours a month”). Blanket clauses are usually invalid. More: employment contract checklist
- If you are paid by the hour, every hour must be paid at least at the minimum wage.
Keep your own record
Employers have to record working time. Still, keep your own record: start, end and breaks every day. If you want to claim unpaid overtime, you need to be able to prove it. To compare with your payslip: German payslip explained
Frequently asked questions
Is a six-day week legal?+
Yes, Saturday is a working day. But the daily limits and the eight-hour average still apply. Working six ten-hour days every week is not allowed.
Do breaks count as working time?+
Usually not. If you have to stay ready to work during your break – answering the phone or watching the till – it is not a real break and counts as working time.
My overtime is not being paid. What can I do?+
Collect your own time records and evidence that the overtime was ordered or known (messages, rotas). Claim the money in writing and watch the deadlines in your contract. Unions and employment lawyers can help.
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