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COVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. - Properties - Nairaland

Nairaland ForumNairaland GeneralPropertiesCOVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. (609 Views)

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COVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. by Treash(op): 8:33am On Apr 24, 2020
Treash:
Under the doctrine of "force majeure", an employer is not bound to pay his employees who are not rendering services any salary. He can rely on doctrine of 'frustration' and 'operation of law', see Section 17 of the Labour Act.

The word "Frustration", means an intervening circumstance that prevents the performance of certain transaction, beyond the capability of either party, for example, death, protracted illness, natural disasters/ occurrence or accident. The word, "Operation of Law" means that either party is unable to fulfill his own part of transaction because of directives issued by the government or through a written law. In the circumstance of the current lockdown pronounced by the government and the ongoing pandemic, the employer can rely on 'frustration' and 'operation of law'.

The implications is that an employer is not bound to pay his worker salary during the lockdown, except he so wishes. The regime of Labour Act does not however apply to some categories of people. This includes those in the administrative affairs, executive arms of companies, those who offer professional services.

Barr Adeolu Ayo Aderinto.
Re: COVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. by ignis: 8:42am On Apr 24, 2020
Noted...
Re: COVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. by utepu: 8:46am On Apr 24, 2020
That is a wonderful legal contribution that will be helpful in this trying period for many people out there.
De Law, please does the doctrine of Force Majuere also apply to a situation where am serving a loan obtained from a financial institution payable on a monthly basis and I am not able to meet my obligation in this period of pandemic?
Your advice will be appreciated.
Thanks
Re: COVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. by Treash(op): 8:53am On Apr 24, 2020
utepu:
That is a wonderful legal contribution that will be helpful in this trying period for many people out there.
De Law, please does the doctrine of Force Majuere also apply to a situation where am serving a loan obtained from a financial institution payable on a monthly basis and I am not able to meet my obligation in this period of pandemic?
Your advice will be appreciated.
Thanks
Yes, though the word 'Force majuere' is not used in your own context. But you have a defence. Initially, there is a contract between you and your creditor which both of you must oblige, wherein time is of essence. However, the current issue is a good defence, except if the creditor can establish that the period within which there was a default, was outside the lockdown period.
Re: COVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. by utepu: 9:32am On Apr 24, 2020
Many thanks De Law. Where do you practice? In case we have a job(brief) for you.
Re: COVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. by Treash(op): 9:57am On Apr 24, 2020
utepu:
Many thanks De Law. Where do you practice? In case we have a job(brief) for you.
Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
Re: COVID-19: Is An Employer Bound To Pay His Worker Salaries- Legal Perspectives. by otomatic(m): 1:11pm On Apr 24, 2020
utepu:
That is a wonderful legal contribution that will be helpful in this trying period for many people out there.
De Law, please does the doctrine of Force Majuere also apply to a situation where am serving a loan obtained from a financial institution payable on a monthly basis and I am not able to meet my obligation in this period of pandemic?
Your advice will be appreciated.
Thanks
Reach out to your creditor and they will arrange for you to have a certain number of months where you do not have to make any payments (moratorium).
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