By Stafflow Editorial Team · Published 2026-09-25 · Last verified September 25, 2026
Key points
- Hours over 9 in a day or 45 in a week are paid at not less than 1.5 times the ordinary rate when the statutory rule applies.
- Sunday or other agreed rest-day work is paid at not less than 1.5 times the ordinary rate.
- Most public-holiday work is paid at not less than 1.5 times the ordinary rate.
- Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Monday are paid at not less than double the ordinary rate when worked.
When the Belize overtime rate applies
Section 118 of the Labour Act provides overtime treatment for qualifying extra work. It includes work over nine hours in a day or forty-five hours in a week, work on Sundays or other agreed rest days, and work on public holidays.
For ordinary overtime, Sunday/rest-day work, and public holidays other than the three special holidays, the minimum statutory rate is one and one-half times the ordinary rate of pay.
Which holidays are paid at double time?
Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Monday are the three holidays identified for a rate of not less than double the ordinary rate when qualifying work is performed.
Other public holidays fall under the one-and-one-half-times rule, subject to the Labour Act and any better contractual or collective-bargaining terms.
Example: four hours of weekday overtime
If an employee’s ordinary hourly rate is BZD $10.00 and four qualifying overtime hours are worked, the overtime rate is BZD $15.00 per hour and the overtime pay for those four hours is BZD $60.00.
Example: work on Christmas Day
At an ordinary rate of BZD $10.00 per hour, the statutory special-holiday multiplier produces BZD $20.00 per qualifying hour worked on Christmas Day, Good Friday, or Easter Monday.
Important scope notes
- The calculator assumes the hours entered already qualify under the Labour Act.
- Collective agreements and employment contracts may provide better terms.
- Some supervisory or management positions can be treated differently under the Act.
- Keep time records and the payroll calculation supporting each overtime payment.
Official sources
Useful Stafflow tools
Related Belize payroll guides
Important note
This guide is general educational information, not tax or legal advice. Rules can change and individual circumstances matter. Verify current requirements with the relevant Belize authority or a qualified professional before acting.