Say your basic pay is K5,200. K5,200 divided by 208 is K25 an hour. Ten hours above 48 in a week pay K37.50 an hour, which is K375. Eight hours on a rest day pay K50 an hour, which is K400. That's K775 before tax.
When does overtime start in Zambia?
After 48 hours in a week. Section 74 says a normal day is eight hours of actual work, and that you and your employer can agree up to 48 hours a week without added pay, or fewer if your contract or collective agreement sets fewer. Section 75 then pays 1.5 times the hourly rate above 48 hours.
Why divide by 208, and does it use basic pay?
Section 75(4) says the hourly rate is your basic wages for the month divided by 208 hours for a full-time employee. So use basic pay, not basic plus allowances. On K5,200 basic and K1,500 allowances, your hourly rate is still K25.
What about guards and watchpersons?
They have their own numbers. Overtime starts after 60 hours a week, at 1.5 times, and the hourly rate is basic pay divided by 240. A guard on K2,400 basic gets K10 an hour and K15 for an overtime hour. Ten overtime hours come to K150. The calculator uses 208, so work a guard's overtime by hand this way.
Can my employer force me to work overtime?
The Ministry of Labour's handbook says overtime isn't mandatory. It's a working document from October 2023, so check your contract too. If you're owed overtime and aren't getting it, keep your own record of the hours and raise it with your employer first. You can also write to the Ministry at [email protected].
Questions people ask
Is overtime taxed in Zambia?
Yes. ZRA counts overtime as emoluments, so it's added to your pay for PAYE in that month. Above K9,200 gross, 37% of it goes in PAYE.
How much is double time on a public holiday?
Double your hourly rate, where the holiday isn't part of your normal working week. On K5,200 basic that's K50 an hour, so an eight hour day pays K400.
How many hours of rest must I get?
At least 24 hours in a row in every period of seven days, under section 76.
Sources
Checked 2 November 2026.