Yancin hutu da shakatawa dama ce ta tattalin arziki, zamantakewar al'umma da al'adu don samun wadataccen lokaci daga aiki da sauran ayyukan al'umma. Yana da nasaba da haƙƙin aiki da ƙungiyoyi na tarihi don iyakance doka a kan lokutan aiki. A yau, haƙƙin hutu an yarda da shi a cikin Sanarwar Duniya na 'Yancin Dan Adam, Yarjejeniyar onasa ta Duniya game da' Yancin Tattalin Arziki, Zamantakewa da Al'adu, Yarjejeniyar kan Hakkokin yaro, da kuma a cikin rubuce-rubuce da yawa na yanki kamar Yarjejeniyar Afirka kan Hakki da Jin Dadin Yaron. Motsi don haƙƙin da aka amince da shi don hutawa da hutu ana iya dawowa zuwa karni na sha tara 19 da motsi na kwana takwas. Tun a shekara ta 1856, masanan da ke aiki a Jami'ar Melbourne a Ostiraliya suka ajiye kayan aikinsu har sai an karɓi buƙatun rage sa'o'in aiki. Shiri mai zuwa na matsakaicin ranar aiki na awa takwas 8 shine ɗayan misalai na farko na kariya ta doka game da aiki mai yawa, wanda a yau muka gane a matsayin haƙƙin hutu da hutu.