Labour Rights in Islam

Labour Rights in Islam

May 1st, the internationally recognized day of labour rights, also known as May Day, was chosen as the date for the International Workers’ Day by the Socialists and Communists of the Second International (a federation of socialist parties and trade unions) to commemorate the Haymarket affair in Chicago, where a bombing had taken place at a labour demonstration in 1886. But even before that – and before Karl Marx and his Marxist theory and Lenin and his Communist plans for the Soviet Union – someone had advocated to “pay the labourers their wages before their sweat dried”. That someone was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a predecessor of labour rights advocacy. So labour law is not some recently developed philosophy – the principles of labour rights have always been embedded in Islam.

At a recent NGO training seminar led by a team of foreigners, I reiterated these words to emphasize for the skeptic circles in Pakistan that Islam too has always advocated for labour rights, it’s the national implementation of laws that has left a lot to be desired. The employer-employee relationship is considered a sacred bond with rights and corresponding responsibilities in Islam. In an era when slavery and indentured servitude was the norm, Islam came to liberate and give much-deserved rights to the people. We also have some Shariah texts that clarify the principles and regulations of this relationship.

For example, it is the right of employees to have their wages specified in advance by the employer and for the labourers to get their wages in full and on time. The Prophet once said that whoever employs people to work for them, must specify their wages in advance.[1] The abstract idea of keeping wages uncertain is a violation of the labourer’s rights, yet it is a norm in modern labour practices.

Another narration mentions that “God said, ‘I will be the opponent of three on the Day of Judgment: … and one who hires a workman and having taken full work from him, does not pay him his wages.'”[2] This is a serious rebuke of the Divine against those who withhold wages and abuse their power over their employees. Hence, the employers who hire workers and then delay their wages by a month or longer are in serious violation of the labourers’ rights.

One of the most known sayings of the Prophet is to “pay the labourers their wages before their sweat dries.”[3] This revolutionary idea challenges even our typical understanding of the salaried pay, i.e. where the common belief of monthly salary is considered, it should, in reality, be paid daily! If one wants to consider revolutionary labour rights, the primary sources of Islamic Law might be an interesting reference – a standard not achieved even in so-called ‘developed’ countries.

Moreover, the employer has no right to force the worker to do more work or work longer than the time or work agreed upon. Sadly, we often see a pattern of behaviour in our workplaces that saddles workers with work beyond their job requirements and with the hidden threat or risk that they might lose their jobs otherwise. They are held back beyond closing hours and until ridiculous hours, without even being considered for their right to overtime pay!

I recently came across a paid advertisement in DAWN newspaper which suggested that because Sindh had passed a bunch of labour laws it was progressing significantly – quite an overstatement I would say. There hasn’t been any meaningful change on the ground because of corruption and the lack of implementation of not just the new laws but even the old ones! The lack of awareness among the people regarding their basic rights as employees only adds to the dilemma. I have personally worked with an initiative called Qaaf Se Qanoon to alleviate this ignorance through seminars, but it is only a drop in the bucket for what needs to be done.

‘Knowledge is power’ as they say, so one must educate oneself regarding his or her rights and not be afraid to challenge and stand up for what is right. Moreover, the Quran also directs employers to, “Fulfil [all] contracts” (Quran 5:1). So it is only fair for employers to fulfil their duties towards their employees.

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References

[1] Narrated by Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri [Musannaf ‘Abdur-Razzaq]. Similar Hadiths were also narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in his Musannaf on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, Abu Sa‘eed and Uthman.

[2] Narrated by Abu Hurairah. Interestingly there is mention of this in the Bible as well in Deuteronomy 24:14-15 which reads: “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be a sign to you.”

[3] Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar.

 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of CourtingTheLaw.com or any organization with which he might be associated.

Syed Muaz Shah

Author: Syed Muaz Shah

The writer is a paralegal with practice in US criminal and immigration law. He is a final year student at the University of London LLB program at SZABIST. He tweets @smuazshah

2 comments

Kudos Muaz, that is very well written indeed and with great references. However, as a practicing advocate I have experienced that the labour laws in this country are very well organized and we should give credit where it’s due. Although alot has to be done I don’t disagree with that but the current position of labour laws is worth highlighting. For example, for any industry that is established in a single state/province, it is governed by the labour laws of that perticular province as compared to companies that are trans provincial, they are governed by the Industrial Relations Act, 2012. Similary, the courts are different, we have provincial labour courts and National Industrial Relations Commission respectively for each establishment. Moreover, these only pertain to labour rights and not that of managers which are further classified as permanent, temporary, dail wages, contract, project employees and so forth. They have protected rights in terms of their service, like regularization in service and promotion. Standing Orders of 1968 protect unlawful and illegal termination from service. Even in cases of unfair labour practices by the employee himself/herself, the employers are bound to give them show cause notices, charge sheets and conduct a domestic inquiry before issuing a termination letter even after that the employee is free to bring his grievance to the employer which he has to reply within 15 days and the redressal is available through litigation as well where ever the jurisdiction lies. In addition to that we have Acts like Sacked Employees Act through which alot of employees where reinstated back in service. Similarly where there has been an unfair dismissal of an employee, he/she can claim reinstatement along with back benefits and pro forma promotion. In addition to that employees of bigger establishments have rights to form Trade Unions in order to raise their issues and to liaise with the management which is widespread throughout the country and has been extremely beneficial for a harmonious relationship between the employer and employee.
These are few points that I thought was worth mentioning. Although we still have a long way to go, and alot to cover up and cater too but I think it’s always good to know more.

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