Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c8.166

c8.166

Later authors give a classification of various wages for labour. The warrior stands first, after him comes the field labourer, load carriers and domestic servants occupy the lowest place (Nār. 5, 22—24 ; Bṛh. 16, 10 f.). In all these kinds of service, even in the case of the servant of a merchant, a share of the profit may also be stipulated for instead of the wages ; in shorter periods of work very probably a fixed sum was stipulated for as a rule (Bṛh. 16, 9). idle employees who do not perform or finish their duty shall receive no wages, or shall return double the amount received as wages or shall also pay a fine ; yet however illness is recognised as a legitimate cause of hindrance to work. On the other hand the employer who without any ground refuses to pay the stipulated wages may be compelled to do it and a fine is imposed upon him ; he may pay for the special performances of his employees as he wishes. The employees must look after the implements of their master and must compensate for any damage done to those implements or to any property of the master, excepting what is caused by *force majeure*.