Invest Guatemala

Part-time employment
in Guatemala

This document outlines the step-by-step process for calculating wages for part-time work schedules and the labor rights that must be guaranteed by employers in Guatemala.

How to Calculate Wages and
Understand the Labor Benefits for Part-Time Workers

– A part-time job refers to any employment in which the weekly working hours are fewer than those established for full-time schedules.

– It is essential to formalize the employment relationship through a written contract that ensures labor rights and the corresponding benefits.

Work Schedules in Guatemala

According to the Guatemalan Labor Code, work schedules are categorized into three types:

Day Shift:

From 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, not exceeding 8 hours per day or 45 hours per week.

Night Shift:

From 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, with a maximum of 6 hours per day and no more than 36 hours per week.

Mixed Shift

A combination of day and night hours, limited to 7 hours per day and 42 hours per week.

How to Calculate Wages for Part-Time Employment

Wages for part-time positions are calculated based on the hours worked and must correspond to the hourly rate of a full-time employee in the same position. Under no circumstances may the hourly rate be below the minimum wage established by law.

 

This procedure is governed by Governmental Agreement 89-2019, Article 2, Clause 7, and Article 4.

Steps to Calculate Part-Time Wages

01

Determine Daily Working Hours: If the employee works from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Monday through Friday, they work 4 hours daily.

02

Identify the Applicable Salary Scale: This is agreed upon between the employer and the employee according to the position’s responsibilities, but may not fall below the legal daily minimum wage.

03

Calculate the Hourly Wage*:
Based on the type of shift and activity

Work Schedule Daily Wage (GTQ) Divided by Hours Hourly Wage (GTQ) Hourly Wage (US$)
Day (8 hrs) GTQ. 122.40 8 GTQ. 15.30 US$ 1.97
Mixed (7 hrs) GTQ. 122.40 7 GTQ. 17.48 US$ 2.26
Night (6 hrs) GTQ. 122.40 6 GTQ. 20.40 US$ 2.63

*Example reference: 2025 Minimum Wage for Non-Agricultural Activities, Economic Region 1 (CE1):

04

Multiply by Hours Worked:

If the employee works 4 hours per day on a day shift:
GTQ 15.30 x 4 = GTQ 61.20 per day (US$ 7.90).
GTQ 61.20 x 5 days = GTQ 306.00 per week (US$ 39.48).

05

Calculate the Paid Day Off:

According to the Labor Code, the weekly day off must be paid. To calculate it:
GTQ 306 / 6 (5 working days + 1 rest day) = GTQ 51.00 (US$ 6.58).
Total weekly salary: GTQ 306 + GTQ 51 = GTQ 357.00 (US$ 46.06).

06

Calculate the Monthly Salary:

GTQ 357 x 4 weeks = GTQ 1,428 + GTQ 250 [incentive bonus] = GTQ 1,678 monthly (US$ 216.52).

Rights of Part-Time Workers

According to Josué Cum from the Escuela Técnica Integral de Capacitación, part-time workers are entitled to:

– One paid day of rest per week (Labor Code, Article 126).

– A monthly incentive bonus of GTQ 250.00 (US$ 32.26) [Decree 37-2001].

– Annual Bonus (Aguinaldo).

– Fourteenth Month Bonus (Bono 14).

– Severance pay in the event of unjustified dismissal.

– Enrollment in the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) if the employer has three or more workers.

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