In Bulgaria, the employee is not obligated to work overtime (unless otherwise agreed). Overtime must be performed outside the regular working time (e.g. before the beginning/after the end of the working day, during the lunch break). The instruction to work overtime is done in writing by the employer.

  • within one calendar year, overtime may not exceed 150 hours
  • within a month it may not exceed 30 hours daily or 20 hours night work
  • within one working week it may not exceed 6 hours of day work and 4 hours of night work
  • within one working month it may not exceed 30 hours day work and 20 hours night work
  • with collective labor agreement it may be agreed a longer duration of the overtime work, but not more than 300 hours in a one calendar year

It is forbidden to compensate overtime with breaks. The payment must be as following:

  • 50 % on the top of the standard rate for work on work days;
  • 75 % on the top of the standard rate for work on holidays;
  • 100 % on the top of the standard rate for work on public holidays;
  • 50 % on the top of the standard rate for work at working time calculated on a weekly or longer basis.