Worked late or on a day off and wondering what you're owed? Here is how it's calculated under Thailand's Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541 (1998), based on the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare's consolidated edition, with worked numbers.
In short
| Work | At least | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime on a working day | 1.5 × the hourly wage | 61 |
| Work on a holiday (already paid for that holiday) | 1 × extra | 62 (1) |
| Work on a holiday (not paid for that holiday) | 2 × | 62 (2) |
| Overtime on a holiday | 3 × | 63 |
All rates are minimums — the law says "not less than", and an employer may pay more.
Step 1: find the hourly wage
Monthly-paid employees. Section 68 defines the hourly wage as the monthly wage divided by 30 times the average number of working hours per day:
Hourly wage = monthly salary ÷ (30 × working hours per day)
It's always 30, whether the month has 28 or 31 days. Working hours exclude breaks: 08:30–16:30 with an hour for lunch is 7 hours.
Daily-paid employees divide the daily wage by the working hours per day.
Step 2: multiply by the type of work
Overtime on a working day (s.61)
At least 1.5 × the hourly wage, for each hour worked.
Work on a holiday (s.62)
- If the employee is already paid for that holiday: at least 1 × extra.
- If the employee is not paid for that holiday: at least 2 ×.
Who is paid for holidays: section 56 says monthly staff are paid for weekly holidays; daily-, hourly- and piece-rate workers are not paid for the weekly holiday, but everyone is paid for public (traditional) holidays and annual leave.
Overtime on a holiday (s.63)
At least 3 × the hourly wage.
Worked examples
Example 1: 15,000-baht salary, 8 hours a day, 2 hours of overtime
- Hourly wage = 15,000 ÷ (30 × 8) = 62.50 baht
- Overtime = 2 × 1.5 × 62.50 = 187.50 baht
Example 2: 24,000-baht salary, 08:30–16:30 with a 1-hour break (7 hours a day)
The Department of Labour Protection and Welfare used this case in a legal opinion on overtime (November 2025): divide 24,000 by 30 and by 7 for the hourly wage, then multiply by the type of work.
- Hourly wage = 24,000 ÷ (30 × 7) = 114.29 baht
- 4 hours of working-day overtime = 4 × 1.5 × 114.29 = 685.71 baht
- A full 7-hour day on the weekly holiday (already paid for it) = 7 × 1 × 114.29 = 800.00 baht
- 4 hours of holiday overtime = 4 × 3 × 114.29 = 1,371.43 baht
Each figure uses the unrounded hourly wage and is rounded once, for display.
Example 3: daily worker on 400 baht a day, 8 hours a day
- Hourly wage = 400 ÷ 8 = 50 baht
- Working-day overtime: 50 × 1.5 = 75 baht an hour
- Work on the weekly holiday (not paid for that day): 50 × 2 = 100 baht an hour
To work out your own, use the hourly wage and overtime calculator: enter your salary or daily wage, hours per day and overtime hours, and it shows every step.
Other rules worth knowing
- Normal hours (s.23): at most 8 hours a day and 48 a week; for work that may be hazardous, at most 7 a day and 42 a week.
- Consent (s.24): overtime on a working day needs the employee's prior consent, case by case, except for continuous work or emergencies.
- At most 36 hours a week of overtime and holiday work combined (s.26 and Ministerial Regulation No. 3, B.E. 2541).
- A break before overtime (s.27): when overtime of 2 hours or more follows normal hours, the employer must give a break of at least 20 minutes before it starts.
- Some kinds of work (s.65) follow different overtime rules — check with the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare.
Minimum wage
Under the Wage Committee's notification No. 14, in force since 1 July 2025, the minimum wage is 337–400 baht a day depending on the area; Bangkok is 400 baht a day. Rates change with new notifications, so check the latest from the Ministry of Labour.
Note
This article is based on the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare's consolidated Labour Protection Act, its Legal Affairs Division's opinion and the Wage Committee notification in the Royal Gazette, read on 28–29 September 2026. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute, contact your local labour protection office or the hotline 1506 (press 3) or 1546.
