Overtime laws by EU country

The EU limits the working week to 48 hours on average. What overtime pays is decided by each country — pick a member state.

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Select a country

All 27 member states: a calculator where national law sets a premium, and the collective-agreement rules where it does not.

European Union

Overtime pay is set nationally — by statute in some member states, by collective agreement in others.

27 member states
Calculator available
SE Sweden Open FI Finland Open DK Denmark Open EE Estonia Open IE Ireland Open NL Netherlands Open LV Latvia Open BE Belgium Open DE Germany Open PL Poland Open LT Lithuania Open FR France Open LU Luxembourg Open CZ Czech Republic Open SK Slovakia Open PT Portugal Open ES Spain Open AT Austria Open HU Hungary Open RO Romania Open SI Slovenia Open HR Croatia Open BG Bulgaria Open IT Italy Open GR Greece Open MT Malta Open CY Cyprus Open
Selected European Union

Pick a country to see its overtime rules. Where national law sets a premium there is a calculator; where pay is set by collective agreement (Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and others) the page explains how the rate is agreed.

European Union Working Time Regulations

EU Directive
Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC)

Maximum 48-hour working week including overtime. Minimum 11 hours daily rest. 4 weeks paid annual leave. Member states may set stricter limits.

National Differences
Each member state differs

France: 35h standard week, OT surcharge 25-50%. Germany: 8h/day max, OT must be compensated with pay or time off. Netherlands: flexible, often governed by collective agreements.

Pay Transparency
EU Directive 2023/970

Countries had until 7 June 2026 to put the Pay Transparency Directive into national law. Employers must share pay ranges with applicants, and the first gender pay gap reports are due in June 2027.