For the source text click/tap here: Bava Metzia 77
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When a casual work agreement is made between two people, there is no perceived need for a formal contract that includes all of the conditions and requirements of the work and the job that is to be completed. Our perek focuses on clarifying questions that arise from such informal agreements.
The case presented in the first Mishnah describes someone who hired workers ve-hit’u zeh et zeh – they deceived one another – they can complain, but there is no obligation to pay damages.
We continue with our daf where Rava taught a halacha regarding a hired worker who was hired for a day in order to do a specific job, and the task was completed in the middle of the day.
If the one who hired the worker has another job for him to do which is easier than the original job for which he was hired, the worker is expected to continue and do the second job as well.
If the only work to do is a task which is more difficult than the original job for which he was hired, the worker cannot be expected to do the second job. In this case, even though the worker is idle for part of the day, he must be paid full wages as originally agreed.
We continue to explore labor law today comparing Halachah with Islamic jurisprudence.