How many hours a day can a construction worker be on the job? Is there a limit?
Auntie’s answer: I took your question to the Department of Labour and Pensions to see if they could help. Unfortunately, a department official explained that the Labour Law does not cover exactly what you are enquiring about.
The relevant part of the Labour Law (2011 Revision) is the section that deals with the standard work week. Section 24(1) says, “The standard work week shall not exceed forty-five hours in any period of one hundred and sixty-eight hours and the standard work day shall not exceed nine hours.”
However, Section 24(2) adds, “The Governor may, by Order, revise this standard for any industry or enterprise specified in the Order.”
I’m guessing that last part may offer even less clarity, but I wanted to give you all the information that I have.
The law mentioned in this column can be found on the CNS Library
Construction workers like all other private secgtor workers on the Island are governed by the Labour Law and the relevant sections that Auntie has quoted. However, the key to this is that overtime pay is due and payable if you exceed your standard work day of 9 hours or standard work week of 45 hours. ie. if you only work 3 days for the week at 12 hours per day then you would still be entitled to overtime pay as you would have exceeded the daily maximum of 9 hours per day even though you have not made the 45 hours for the week. You are also entitled to, under the law a full 24 hours off in each 7 days.
For lawyers its 30. I have seen it on their time-sheets. Its great to bill 10 clients $600 an hour for three hours each on the same day!
That’s fraud. Did you report it to the law society or police? I call BS.
Report it to who? You make me laugh!
I think the maximum is 24.