French Labour Code
Statutory baseline
The statutory baseline that applies when no CCN covers the role. Enter a working week and see instantly whether it stays within the rules, triggers overtime, or breaches a limit.
Who this agreement covers
The French Labour Code (Code du travail) is the default statutory scheme that applies to any employee whose role is not covered by a collective agreement. It is not tied to a sector: it sets the baseline hours, rest and overtime rules for all private employers in France where no extended convention governs. Its defining feature is that it is the fallback floor rather than a negotiated agreement, so its 35-hour reference week, 220-hour annual quota and 25 then 50 percent overtime tiers apply exactly as written until a convention supersedes them.
Key rules at a glance
These are the limits the checker uses for this agreement.
How overtime and hours work
The French Labour Code is the statutory baseline that applies when no collective agreement covers the employer. The legal reference week is 35 hours. Weekly working time is capped at 48 hours in absolute terms, with a 44-hour average over any 12 consecutive weeks, and daily working time is limited to 10 hours within a 13-hour span. Employees must receive at least 11 consecutive hours of daily rest between shifts and at least 35 consecutive hours of weekly rest, working no more than 6 consecutive days. Overtime is paid at a rising premium: hours from 36 to 43 carry a 25 percent premium, and hours from 44 onward carry 50 percent, with an annual quota of 220 hours.
A 45-hour week under the Labour Code
An employee with no governing convention works 45 hours in one week off the statutory 35-hour reference. The ten extra hours split across the two statutory bands.
The default statutory annual overtime quota is 220 hours per employee. These are the fallback rates; a collective agreement, where one applies, can replace them with its own scale.
Frequently asked
What is the maximum legal working week in France?+
Weekly working time cannot exceed 48 hours in any single week, and the average is capped at 44 hours over any 12 consecutive weeks. The statutory reference week is 35 hours, so hours worked beyond 35 are overtime, within a default annual quota of 220 hours.
How is overtime paid under the Labour Code?+
The default statutory rates apply a rising premium: hours from 36 to 43 are paid at a 25 percent premium over the base rate, and hours from 44 onward at 50 percent. The default annual overtime quota is 220 hours per employee.
What is the minimum rest between two shifts?+
Employees are entitled to at least 11 consecutive hours of daily rest between shifts and at least 35 consecutive hours of weekly rest, with no more than 6 consecutive days worked. Daily working time is limited to 10 hours within a maximum span of 13 hours.
Guidance only, based on published French Labour Code values. Figures change, so verify against the in-force text before relying on a result.
Managing a whole team's hours?
This checks one week. Leavo tracks every employee against their convention automatically, and flags a breach before it reaches the payslip.
Other collective agreements
France · Conventions collectives (CCN)
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Commerce alimentaire
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Switzerland · CCT
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Location de services
Temporary work & staffing
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Sécurité privée
Private security
Commerce de détail
Retail trade
Code des obligations + LTr
No collective agreement
A free compliance checker from Leavo covering French (CCN) and Swiss (CCT) collective agreements. Values are compiled from official and branch sources for guidance only. They change periodically and do not constitute legal advice. Always confirm against the in-force agreement and applicable company terms.