The overtime rule in Fiji
Fiji does not set a single blanket overtime rate in the main statute. The Employment Relations Act 2007 caps normal working time for an adult worker at 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week, and the actual overtime rates are fixed by the sector-specific Wages Regulations 2015 issued by the Wages Councils (for example the Wages (Manufacturing Industry) Regulations 2015, reg 9, and the Wages (Mining and Quarrying) Regulations 2015, reg 10). Crucially, these orders are near-identical across industries, so a consistent national pattern applies: overtime is paid at one and a half times (1.5x) the worker's normal hourly rate for the first 4 hours worked beyond normal hours, and double (2x) for all time worked thereafter. The same regulations require time-and-a-half or double pay for work on rest days and public holidays. So while you should always check the specific Wages Regulation for your trade, "1.5x then 2x" is the de facto Fiji standard.
Fiji overtime rates at a glance
| Situation | Rate (of normal hourly pay) |
|---|---|
| First 4 overtime hours (workday) | 1.5x (+50%) |
| Overtime beyond the first 4 hours | 2x (+100%) |
| Work on weekly rest day / rostered day off | 2x (+100%), all hours |
| Work on a public holiday | 1.5x first 4 hrs, 2x thereafter (sector-dependent; some orders 2x all hours) |
| Normal full-time hours | 1.0x (up to 8/day, 48/week) |
Worked example (FJD)
Suppose Mereoni earns FJ$5.00 an hour and works a 10-hour day when the normal day is 8 hours. She has 2 overtime hours, both within the "first 4 hours" band, so both are paid at 1.5x.
| Component | Calculation | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Normal hours (8) | 8 x $5.00 | $40.00 |
| Overtime hours (2, at 1.5x) | 2 x $5.00 x 1.5 | $15.00 |
| Total day | $55.00 |
If she instead worked a 14-hour day, the first 4 OT hours pay 1.5x (4 x $5 x 1.5 = $30.00) and the next 2 OT hours pay 2x (2 x $5 x 2 = $20.00), on top of the $40.00 base.
Rest days, public holidays and night work
Under the Wages Regulations 2015, all time worked on a worker's weekly rest day or rostered day off is paid at double (2x) the normal rate. Public holiday work attracts a premium too — commonly 1.5x for the first 4 hours and 2x thereafter, though a few orders specify double for all hours, so check your trade's regulation. Fiji law does not set a separate statutory night-shift premium; any night allowance is a matter of the employment contract or a collective agreement rather than a fixed legal rate.
Caps, exemptions and how to complain
Overtime hours are not hard-capped by the Act, but normal hours should not routinely exceed 8/day and 48/week unless varied by a written or collective agreement. Workers must get a weekly rest period and a daily rest break (typically at least 30 minutes for meals). Senior managerial and certain professional staff may fall outside the detailed Wages Regulation rates. The labour authority is the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations (the former Ministry of Labour). If you are underpaid, keep your own record of hours, raise it in writing with your employer, then lodge a complaint with the Ministry's Labour/Mediation Services; unresolved disputes can go to the Employment Relations Tribunal.
- Is overtime in Fiji 1.5x or 2x?
- Both. The Wages Regulations 2015 pay 1.5x (time-and-a-half) for the first 4 overtime hours and 2x (double) for every hour after that.
- When does overtime start?
- After your normal hours — generally 8 hours in a day, within a 48-hour week, unless your contract sets shorter normal hours.
- What do I get paid on my day off or a public holiday?
- Work on your weekly rest day is paid at double. Public holiday work is also premium-paid — usually 1.5x for the first 4 hours then 2x, depending on your sector's Wages Regulation.
- Is there extra pay for night shifts?
- There is no statutory night premium in Fiji. Any night allowance depends on your contract or collective agreement.
- Who enforces overtime pay?
- The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations. You can lodge a wage complaint there, and unresolved cases go to the Employment Relations Tribunal.