Overtime in Guatemala
Overtime (tiempo extraordinario) is regulated by Guatemala's Labor Code (Decree 1441). Work beyond the ordinary workday must be paid with a premium over the regular hourly wage.
In Guatemala, overtime is paid with at least a 50% premium on the ordinary hourly rate. If your regular hour is Q25.00, the minimum overtime hour is Q37.50. This calculator uses monthly salary, shift type, and overtime hours in the month.
Overtime formula
Ordinary hourly rate = Monthly salary ÷ Ordinary monthly hours
Overtime hourly rate = Ordinary hourly rate × 1.5
Overtime pay = Overtime hourly rate × Overtime hours worked
Article 121 sets a minimum 50% surcharge on ordinary pay for effective work outside ordinary limits.
Work schedules used by the calculator
| Shift | Reference hours | Hours/day | Hours/week | Avg hours/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day (diurna) | 6:00–18:00 | 8 | 44 | 190.67 |
| Night (nocturna) | 18:00–6:00 | 6 | 36 | 156.00 |
| Mixed (mixta) | Spans both | 7 | 42 | 182.00 |
This tool is educational. Collective agreements, contracts, or internal policies may improve the minimum. Confirm formal claims with HR, the Labor Ministry, or a labor advisor.
Worked examples (Q4,000 monthly)
Day shift
- Ordinary hour: Q4,000 ÷ 190.67 = Q20.98
- Overtime hour: Q20.98 × 1.5 = Q31.47
- 10 OT hours: Q314.70
Night shift
- Ordinary hour: Q4,000 ÷ 156 = Q25.64
- Overtime hour: Q38.46
- 10 OT hours: Q384.60
Mixed shift
- Ordinary hour: Q4,000 ÷ 182 = Q21.98
- Overtime hour: Q32.97
- 10 OT hours: Q329.70
Quick table: Q4,000 monthly salary
| Shift | Ordinary hour | OT hour (1.5×) | 5 OT hours | 10 OT hours | 20 OT hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Q20.98 | Q31.47 | Q157.35 | Q314.70 | Q629.40 |
| Night | Q25.64 | Q38.46 | Q192.30 | Q384.60 | Q769.20 |
| Mixed | Q21.98 | Q32.97 | Q164.85 | Q329.70 | Q659.40 |
Sundays, holidays, and limits
- This tool estimates the Art. 121 minimum: ordinary overtime at 1.5× the ordinary hourly rate.
- Work on a weekly rest day or public holiday (asueto) often follows different rules (Art. 126 and payroll practice). There is no universal “always 2×” baked into this calculator: confirm with HR or the Labor Ministry.
- Daily total should not exceed 12 hours (ordinary + overtime).
- Overtime is generally voluntary, except justified emergencies.
Incentive bonus (Q250)
Decree 37-2001 sets a Q250 monthly incentive bonus for private-sector workers. It is paid separately, is not part of salary for most benefits, and is not ordinary IGSS base: do not fold it into the ordinary hourly base for OT.
Related labor calculators
- Payroll / planilla Guatemala
- Net salary Guatemala
- Liquidación Guatemala
- Severance / finiquito
- IGSS contributions
- Vacation pay
- Aguinaldo
At least a 50% premium (Art. 121): overtime hour = ordinary hour × 1.5.
Calcufast does not divide salary by 240 (or by 30×8). It uses average monthly hours from the legal weekly jornada: day 44 → ~190.67, night 36 → 156, mixed 42 → 182 (weekly hours × 52 ÷ 12). The shortcut salary÷30÷8 (=240) or a flat ÷240 ignores that schedule and usually understates the ordinary hour.
One side-by-side with Q4,000 on the day shift: Calcufast → Q4,000 ÷ 190.67 ≈ Q20.98 ordinary and ×1.5 ≈ Q31.47 overtime; ÷240 → Q4,000 ÷ 240 ≈ Q16.67 and ×1.5 ≈ Q25.00. Same payroll, different divisor.
Divide monthly salary by average ordinary monthly hours for your shift (≈190.67 day, 156 night, 182 mixed).
On a Q4,000 monthly salary, one overtime hour is about Q31.47 on the day shift, Q38.46 on the night shift, and Q32.97 on the mixed shift.
Not necessarily. This calculator applies the Art. 121 minimum: ordinary overtime at 1.5×. Work on a rest day or asueto often has a different: frequently higher: treatment under Art. 126, contract, or payroll practice; we do not invent a mandatory 2× for every case. Confirm with HR or the Labor Ministry before closing a payroll or claim.
Overtime often enters the payroll/IGSS base depending on how it is reported. Confirm with HR or your accountant and use the IGSS calculator for estimates.
Usually no. The incentive bonus is separate and should not automatically inflate the ordinary hourly rate used for overtime.
Yes. Overtime is voluntary under the law, except in emergencies or force majeure. Refusing under normal conditions is not, by itself, grounds for dismissal.