Does verse 280 of Surat Al-Baqarah, "And if he should be in hardship, then [let there be] postponement until [a time of] ease," apply to workers' rights and wages?

The employer must pay the workers' wages immediately upon completion of the work or the agreed-upon period, based on Allah's saying: (Then if they suckle for you, give them their due payment), and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: (Give the hired worker his wages before his sweat dries).

However, if the employer is in hardship, Allah's saying applies to him: (And if there is one in hardship, then grant him respite until a time of ease), and he must be given respite until he can afford to pay. Hardship means that the debtor does not have money exceeding his basic necessities to pay his debt, such as housing, clothing, work tools, sources of livelihood, and what he needs for his own wages and the wages of his dependents.

If he has money exceeding his basic necessities and delays paying salaries, then his action is a forbidden procrastination, and it exposes him to a severe warning, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: (Allah said: There are three whose opponent I will be on the Day of Resurrection: ... and a man who hired a worker and benefited fully from him but did not give him his wages), and his saying: (The procrastination of the wealthy is injustice), and (The delay of the one who is able makes his honor and punishment permissible).

The employer must beware of delaying salaries or procrastinating in fulfilling rights, lest Allah be his opponent on the Day of Resurrection.