Taking breaks during working hours has several advantages and is guaranteed by law. Contas Conosco explains what workers’ rights are in relation to rest time. All workers have the right to a working day that includes rest periods. The work break is an integral part of the journey and must be included in the daily routine, as established in the CLT, cited by .
What does the law say? Article 213 of the CLT provides for the right to a rest break after five consecutive hours of work. Article 200 guarantees the right to daily and weekly rest, specifying that the worker must have at least 11 consecutive hours of daily rest and 24 consecutive hours of weekly rest, over a period of two weeks. Furthermore, the worker can enjoy one or more breaks throughout the workday.
How long should the break be? The daily rest period must be between one and two hours, and can never be shorter or longer than this limit.
As for other interruptions during working hours, these may include occasional breaks to meet urgent personal needs or breaks imposed by occupational health and safety regulations. The duration and frequency of these breaks can be defined by collective labor regulation instruments, internal company regulations or result from usual practices in the company, reveals .
Workers not only have duties, but also rights that must be respected. If in doubt, you can consult the ACT – Authority for Working Conditions.
How many working hours are allowed by law? The normal working period is eight hours a day and 40 hours a week. However, with the inclusion of overtime, the working week must not exceed 48 hours.
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