Q: What are the mitzvos and prohibitions related to payment of wages?

A: Payment of wages is no less a mitzvah than payment of any other monetary obligation. Therefore, withholding due wages from a worker or employee is tantamount to stealing from him (C.M. 339:1-2, SM”A 339:4).

In addition, there are specific prohibitions that relate to withholding wages: “Lo sa’ashok es rei’acha - You shall not cheat [i.e. withhold wages from] your fellow (Vayikra 19:13).” If the employee is poor there is an additional prohibition, “Lo sa’ashok sachir ani v’evyon - You shall not cheat a hired person who is poor or destitute (Devarim 24:14).”

Furthermore, the prohibition does not relate only to withholding wages entirely. There is a mitzvah to pay wages in a timely manner and prohibitions against delaying payment: “B’yomo siten scharo, v’lo savo alav hashemesh - On that day you shall pay his hire; the sun shall not set upon it (Devarim 24:15)”; “Lo salin pe’ulas sachir itecha ad boker - A worker’s wage should not remain with you overnight (Vayikra 19:13).”

These many verses underscore the importance that the Torah attributes to proper payment of wages.