Daily Mitzvot

Do not delay the payment of a hired man’s wages.

 

 “Do not keep the wages of the worker with you until morning” Vayikra, 19:13

And further “the sun shall not go down on it” Devarim, 24:15

 

If hired for the day, he is to collect the entire night. Regarding this it says “until morning” Vayikra 19:13

If hired for the night, he can collect the entire day as it says “neither shall the sun go down on it”

 

If hired for certain hours of the day, he can collect during the entire day.

 

If hired for certain hours of the night can collect at any time during the night.

 

As long as an object remains with the craftsman, even if he informed the owner it is completed, the owner commits no transgression.

 

If the craftsman does not demand payment, the owner commits no transgression.

 

Even if he demands payment and he does not have what to give, or if he passed him on to another to pay him, he is free of guilt.

 

If payment is delayed beyond the allotted time he disobeys a positive commandment +66 as it says “that day pay his wages” Devarim, 24:15 and violates this prohibition.

 

If he continues to delay he further violates the prohibition from Scripture “Do not say to your fellow –go and come back again etc.” Proverbs 3:28

 

It is all the same whether the hire of a man or an animal or tools the following applies –

“On that day pay the wages” and “the sun shall not go down on it “and “shall not remain with you all night”

Wrongfully retaining the workers’ wages is considered as taking a life and violates all the above prohibitions and the positive commandment.

 

It is also a violation of “you shall not rob him” (-35) and “not to wrongfully retain anything” (-37)

 

This applies in all places at all times for men and women.