Skip to results

Is there a limit on overtime?

Kurdistan Region

Only in listed cases; at most 4 hours a day in non-industrial work; overtime plus holiday work at most 300 hours a year.

  • Labour Law No. 71 of 1987 · Art. 63/2(c)
  • KRG Ministry of Labour explainer, Kar portal, 14 Apr 2025

Federal Iraq

4 a day in non-industrial work, 40 in 90 days and 120 a year.

  • Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 · Art. 71/5(c), 71/5(e)

The law

The Kurdistan Region has no labour law of its own, so it still applies Iraqi Labour Law No. 71 of 1987. Federal Iraq has applied the newer Labour Law No. 37 since 2015.

Kurdistan RegionLabour Law No. 71 of 1987· Art. 63/2(c)Official text
لا يجوز ان تتجاوز ساعات العمل الاضافية في الاعمال غير الصناعية اربع ساعات يوميا.
Kurdistan RegionKRG Ministry of Labour explainer, Kar portal, 14 Apr 2025Official text
لە کاتى کارکردنى کاتژمێری زێدەکى و کارکردن لە جەژن و پشووە فەرمییەکاندا، نابێت کارکردنى ساڵانەى کرێکار زیاتر بێت لە (300) کاتژمێر لە ساڵێکدا
Federal IraqLabour Law No. 37 of 2015· Art. 71/5(c)Official text
لا يجوز ان تزيد ساعات العمل الاضافية في الاعمال غير الصناعية على (٤) اربع ساعات يوميا .
Federal IraqLabour Law No. 37 of 2015· Art. 71/5(e)Official text
يشترط عدم تشغيل أي عامل اكثر من (٤٠) اربعين ساعة عمل اضافي لمدة (٩٠) تسعين يوما و (١٢٠) مئة و عشرين ساعة عملا اضافيا لمدة (١) سنة

This is general information, not legal advice. It is for private-sector workers only, not government employees. It is written from the official texts of the laws named with each answer, checked on Oct 15, 2026. If anything differs, the official text of the law decides. For your own situation, speak to a lawyer or the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Looking for a new job?

New openings from employers and job sites across Kurdistan and Iraq, gathered every hour.

See jobs