Islamic Rulings on Employees’ Rights, Fair Wages, Overtime, and Workplace Exploitation

Question

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
Respected Mufti Sahib,
I seek Islamic guidance regarding an important issue. Kindly provide a detailed response in the light of the Qur'an, Sunnah, Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), and the opinions of eminent scholars, so that no ambiguity remains.
Nowadays, many employees, especially those in lower-level positions, are living under extremely difficult circumstances. Their salaries are so low that, in this era of rising inflation, it has become difficult even to meet their basic needs. Expenses such as electricity, gas, and water bills, house rent, children's education, medical treatment, transportation, and other daily necessities have become increasingly difficult to manage.
In some organizations, employees receive salaries of around PKR 50,000 or even less, while they are required to work 11 to 12 hours a day instead of the prescribed 8 hours. No overtime payment or additional compensation is provided for the extra hours worked. Furthermore, employees are often called to work on weekly holidays or Sundays, and in many cases, no additional payment is given for this work either. In some workplaces, both male and female employees are pressured to attend work even on their designated days off.
In this context, I seek answers to the following questions:
What are the fundamental rights of employees and workers in Islam?
Is it obligatory upon an employer to set a salary that enables an employee to meet his or her basic needs?
What is the Islamic ruling on requiring employees to work beyond the agreed working hours?
Is it necessary to provide separate compensation for additional work?
If an employee is required to work on a holiday or weekly day off, is additional compensation obligatory?
Is it permissible to pressure employees into performing extra work without their consent?
If an employer deliberately suppresses the rights of employees, pays inadequate wages, or takes additional work without compensation, what is the ruling of Shariah regarding such conduct?
What warnings or consequences have been mentioned in Islam, both in this world and in the Hereafter, for such employers?
What teachings does the Qur'an and the blessed Ahadith provide regarding the rights of workers, employees, and the weaker segments of society?
Does injustice, exploitation, and taking advantage of employees' hardships and vulnerabilities fall under the category of oppression (zulm) in Islam?
If an employee is compelled by necessity to work under such conditions, what guidance does Shariah provide for him or her?
In the light of Islam, what kind of attitude and conduct should modern organizations and employers adopt toward their employees?
Kindly provide a detailed answer to this issue, supported by relevant Qur'anic verses, Prophetic traditions (Ahadith), and principles of Islamic jurisprudence, so that clear guidance may be available for both employees and employers.
Jazakum Allahu Khairan wa Ahsan al-Jaza.
Wassalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Shakeel Ahmed · Accepted Answer

Islam places special emphasis on safeguarding the rights of workers and employees. According to Islamic law (Shari'ah), an employer is obligated to honor the terms of the employment agreement made with the employee. If an employee is required to work beyond the agreed working hours, the employer must obtain the employee's consent and also pay appropriate compensation for the additional work. Unjustifiably reducing an employee's wages, withholding their salary, or exploiting their circumstances by requiring them to perform extra work without compensation constitutes oppression and the violation of rights, which is impermissible under Islamic law.
Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:
"O you who believe! Fulfill your contracts." (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:1)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
"Pay the worker his wages before his sweat dries." (Sunan Ibn Majah)
In another hadith, Allah Almighty says:
"On the Day of Resurrection, I Myself will be the opponent of a person who employs a worker, takes full work from him, and then does not pay him his wages." (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Therefore, an employer who deliberately suppresses the rights of employees, reduces their wages, or requires them to perform additional work without compensation is committing injustice. If such a person continues to usurp the rights of others without repentance, they will be liable to Allah's accountability in the Hereafter.
However, Islamic law does not prescribe any fixed amount for salaries or wages. Rather, the amount is determined by mutual agreement, prevailing custom ('urf), and the circumstances. Accordingly, if both the employer and the employee mutually agree upon a specific salary and working hours, that agreement is the primary basis. Nevertheless, employers should take into account the needs and circumstances of their employees and deal with them fairly.
If an employee is working for low wages or under difficult conditions due to necessity, they should seek a better job when a suitable opportunity arises. At the same time, employers should fear Allah and faithfully fulfill the rights of those under their authority.
In light of these Islamic guidelines, the answer is as follows:
An employer is not religiously obligated to pay employees according to their personal financial needs. However, at the time of employment—or when continuing employment—the employee may request a salary that meets their needs and make it a condition of the employment. If the employer agrees, the employee may work there; otherwise, they should seek employment elsewhere.
An employee is not required to work beyond the agreed working hours. If they do work additional hours, they have the right to demand payment for that extra work. If they choose to perform the extra work without compensation, they are free to do so.
If an employee stipulates compensation as a condition for performing additional work, then paying that compensation becomes obligatory. If the employee voluntarily agrees to perform the extra work without compensation, they are entitled to do so.
Likewise, if an employee works on a holiday and makes compensation a condition, the employer must pay the agreed compensation. If the employee chooses to work on a holiday without compensation, they have the discretion to do so.
It is not permissible to compel employees to perform work beyond what was agreed upon in their employment contract.

اسلام نے مزدوروں اور ملازمین کے حقوق کی حفاظت پر خاص زور دیا ہے۔ شریعت کی رو سے آجر پر لازم ہے کہ ملازم کے ساتھ طے شدہ معاہدے کی پابندی کرے۔ اگر مقررہ اوقات سے زائد کام لیا جائے تو ملازم کی رضامندی حاصل کرے، اور اضافی کام کا مناسب معاوضہ بھی ادا کرے۔ ملازم کی اجرت میں بلاوجہ کمی کرنا، اس کی تنخواہ روکنا، یا اس کی مجبوری سے فائدہ اٹھا کر اس سے بلا معاوضہ اضافی کام لینا ظلم اور حق تلفی ہے، جو شرعاً ناجائز ہے۔

قرآن کریم میں ارشاد ہے:

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ﴾ (المائدۃ: 1)

یعنی: "اے ایمان والو! اپنے معاہدوں کو پورا کرو۔" نیز رسول اللہ ﷺ نے فرمایا: "مزدور کی مزدوری اس کا پسینہ خشک ہونے سے پہلے ادا کرو۔" (ابن ماجہ) اور ایک اور حدیث میں اللہ تعالیٰ فرماتے ہیں: "قیامت کے دن میں خود اس شخص کا مدعی ہوں گا جو کسی مزدور سے پورا کام لے اور اس کی مزدوری ادا نہ کرے۔" (صحیح بخاری)

لہٰذا جو آجر جان بوجھ کر ملازمین کے حقوق دباتا ہے، ان کی اجرت کم کرتا ہے، یا بغیر معاوضہ اضافی کام لیتا ہے، وہ ظلم کا مرتکب ہے اور اگر توبہ کیے بغیر لوگوں کے حقوق غصب کرتا رہا تو آخرت میں اللہ تعالیٰ کی پکڑ کا مستحق ہوگا۔

البتہ شریعت نے کسی خاص تنخواہ یا اجرت کی مقدار مقرر نہیں کی، بلکہ اس کا مدار باہمی معاہدے، عرف اور حالات پر ہے۔ اس لیے اگر آجر اور ملازم کسی مخصوص اجرت اور اوقاتِ کار پر رضامند ہوں تو اصل اعتبار اسی معاہدے کا ہوگا، تاہم آجر کو چاہیے ملازمین کی ضروریات اور حالات کا لحاظ رکھے اور ان کے ساتھ انصاف کا معاملہ کرے۔

اگر کوئی ملازم مجبوری کی وجہ سے کم اجرت یا سخت شرائط پر کام کر رہا ہو تو اسے مناسب موقع ملنے پر بہتر ملازمت تلاش کرنی چاہیے، اور آجر کو اللہ تعالیٰ سے ڈرتے ہوئے اپنے ماتحت افراد کے حقوق پوری دیانت کے ساتھ ادا کرنے چاہییں۔

اس شرعی ہدایات کے بعد جواب ملاحظہ فرمائیں:

آجر پر ملازمین کی ضروریات کے حساب سے تنخواہ دینا لازم نہیں ہے،البتہ ملازم اپنی تقرری کے وقت یا آگے ملازمت جاری رکھنے کے لئے اپنی ضروریات کے بقدر تنخواہ کا مطالبہ کرسکتا ہے اور شرط لگا سکتا ہے،اگر آجر مان جائے تو وہاں ملازمت کرے یا پھر دوسری جگہ ملازمت تلاش کرے۔

معاہدہ شدہ اوقات سے زائد کام کرنا ملازم پر ضروری نہیں ہے،اگر اوقات سے زائد کام کررہا ہو تو ملازم اجرت کا مطالبہ کرسکتا ہے،اگر بلا معاوضہ کرے تو اس کو اختیار ہے۔

اضافی کام پر اگر ملازم عوض کی شرط لگادے تو عوض ادا کرنا ضروری ہے،اگر وہ بلا عوض کرنا چاہے تو اس کو اختیار ہے۔

تعطیل کے دن کام کرنے پر بھی اگر ملازم عوض کی شرط لگادے تو عوض ادا کرنا ضروری ہے،اگر وہ بلا عوض کرنا چاہے تو اس کو اختیار ہے۔

ملازمین کو ان کے معاہدہ سے زائد کام کرنے پر مجبور کرنا جائز نہیں ہے۔