Q: Is it necessary to stipulate a termination date in an employment contract? Can a father employ his son indefinitely or must a termination date be specified?
A: It is not necessary to stipulate a termination date in an employment contract. However it is necessary that the wage be stipulated in accordance to a specific time or specific work. (eg: daily wage,monthly wage or upon the completion of a certain work the wage will be received)
We do not understand what is meant by indefinitely, however if the son is paid on a daily basis, monthly basis it will be permissible though he does not know how long he will remain employed in the business.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
باب ضمان الأجير : قال الأجراء على ضربين أجير مشترك وأجير خاص فالمشترك من لا يستحق الأجرة حتى يعمل كالصباغ والقصار لأن المعقود عليه إذا كان هو العمل أو أثره كان له أن يعمل للعامة لأن منافعه لم تصر مستحقة لواحد فمن هذا الوجه يسمى مشتركا (الهداية 3/ 308)
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)