Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 16. What is normal abroad but not here › The 44 hour week ending Saturday noon

The 44 hour week ending Saturday noon

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Stable

Abroad a 40 to 48 hour week can be spread freely; here the limit is eight hours a day and 44 a week, and the week ends at noon on Saturday by default. Overtime pays 35% more up to 68 hours a week and 100% more above that, and night hours pay 15% more. Rest of 36 hours a week is required, and overtime is reported to the Ministry each month.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana reference selling rate of RD$60.9007 per US dollar for 29 October 2026, the latest row in its published rate file on the verification date, rounded to the cent.

Key facts

Weekly limit	44 hoursLey 16-92 art. 147, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Daily limit	8 hoursLey 16-92 art. 147, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Overtime premium to 68 hours	35 %Ley 16-92 art. 203, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Overtime premium above 68 hours	100 %Ley 16-92 art. 203, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Night premium	15 %Ley 16-92 art. 204, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Weekly rest	36 hoursLey 16-92 art. 163, as of 2026-10-30 · in force

The rule

1. Normal hours cannot exceed eight a day or 44 a week. The week ends at noon on Saturday, unless the minister sets otherwise by resolution for certain businesses.Ley 16-92, Código de Trabajo, art. 147, 1992-05-29 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. Each hour above the normal shift, up to 68 hours in the week, pays at least 35% more. Each hour above 68 pays at least 100% more.
Cost to do it: 35% or 100% on top of the normal hourly value.
Example: Salary RD$60,000: normal hour RD$314.73, overtime hour RD$424.88. / Normal hour US$5.17, overtime hour US$6.98.Ley 16-92, Código de Trabajo, art. 203, 1992-05-29 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. A monthly salary is divided by 23.83, then by the hours of the normal shift, to get the normal hourly value for overtime and night hours.Decreto 258-93, Reglamento del Código de Trabajo, art. 34 d, 1993-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. Night hours pay at least 15% more.Ley 16-92, Código de Trabajo, art. 204, 1992-05-29 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. Workers get an uninterrupted weekly rest of 36 hours, starting Saturday at noon unless agreed. A worker who works it can choose 100% more pay or equal rest the next week.Ley 16-92, Código de Trabajo, art. 163 and art. 164, 1992-05-29 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. Limits do not apply, unless agreed, to representatives of the employer and management and inspection staff.Ley 16-92, Código de Trabajo, art. 150, 1992-05-29 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. When overtime is worked, the employer reports hours and amounts paid to the labor authority within the first ten days of the next month.Decreto 258-93, Reglamento del Código de Trabajo, art. 26, 1993-10-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Worked example

A worker on RD$60,000 (US$985.21) a month has a normal hour of RD$314.73 (US$5.17). Ten overtime hours in a 54 hour week pay RD$4,248.85 (US$69.77).

Step by step

Set the schedule in the contract.
Track hours for all non management staff.
Pay overtime at the right rate in the same period.
File the monthly report by the 10th.

Common traps

A manager title does not by itself remove overtime: the job must really be one of direction or inspection.
Weekend work patterns from abroad clash with the Saturday noon start of rest, and need agreement or a Ministry resolution.
Overtime for extraordinary demand is limited to 80 hours a quarter, under art. 155.

Sources

Código de Trabajo with Decreto 258-93, Ministerio de Trabajo edition

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