Understanding Working Hours and Breaks
The sum of 48 working hours per week is calculated by multiplying the normal working hours per day by 6 working days (8 x 6 = 48) during the actual stretch of the week. The phrase "working hours" refers only to the actual hours worked. However, the work scenario may require some extra hours, and both combined make a full-time stretch during which the employee would be at the disposal of the employer from signing-on to signing-off. This is called "spread over," inclusive of the intervals for rest.
As per the ILO Convention, no employee shall be allowed to work continuously for more than 5 hours without a rest of at least half an hour. Therefore, the normal working hours per week do not include intervals for rest, such as lunch breaks.