QUESTION:
Our Malawian Kwacha recently devalued by 44%. I would pay the domestic worker K10,000 for the past year. After devaluation, is she entitled to K10,000 + 44%? Because, after devaluation, the value of K10,000 is now K5,600. Will the Mas’ala be the same if an agreement is not in place?
ANSWER:
The employer and employee agreed on a salary of K10 000, hence the domestic worker will still be entitled to same salary of K10 000. However, you as the employer are at liberty to voluntarily increase the salary knowing that the salary has been devalued by 44%. Yes, if there was a contract or agreement between the transactors that if the currency is devalued then the salary will be raised to the value of K10 000, then it will have to be raised by 44% according to the agreement. In the absence of such an agreement the salary remains at K10 000.
(الْمَادَّةُ 450) :يُشْتَرَطُ أَنْ تَكُونَ الْأُجْرَةُ مَعْلُومَةً.
يُشْتَرَطُ لِصِحَّةِ الْإِجَارَةِ أَيْ عَدَمِ فَسَادِهَا أَوَّلًا أَنْ تَكُونَ الْأُجْرَةُ مَعْلُومَةً تَمَامًا قَدْرًا وَنَوْعًا.
أَيْ لَا يَكُونُ شَيْءٌ مِنْهَا مَجْهُولًا كُلًّا أَوْ بَعْضًا لِأَنَّ جَهْلَ الْأُجْرَةِ يُفْضِي إلَى الْمُنَازَعَةِ وَلِقَوْلِهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – «مَنْ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيرًا فَلْيُعْطِهِ أَجْرَهُ» (الْهِنْدِيَّةُ) (درر الحكام في شرح مجلة الاحكام ص503 ج1)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 07 Jumadal Ukhra 1445 / 21 December 2023
