Analysis of the Ijarah Contract on the Wage System of Palm Oil Loading and Unloading Laborers in Lambur II Village

This study was motivated by the wage practices applied to palm oil loading and unloading laborers in Lambur II Village, which still experience several issues, including delayed wage payments, unclear scopes of work, and unequal bargaining positions between laborers and employers within informal employment relations. These conditions raise questions regarding the conformity of the wage system with the principles of the ijarah contract in Islamic economic law, particularly concerning the clarity of ujrah (wages), justice, and punctuality of payment. This study aims to analyze the wage system of palm oil loading and unloading laborers based on the pillars and conditions of the ijarah contract and to evaluate its conformity with the principles of fiqh muamalah. The research employed a qualitative approach using a descriptive-analytical design. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation involving laborers and palm oil business owners in Lambur II Village, and were analyzed using triangulation techniques. The findings reveal that the wage practices have fulfilled the basic elements of the ijarah contract; however, their implementation has not fully met the principles of contractual clarity, payment certainty, and justice in employment relations. Delayed wage payments and the assignment of additional tasks beyond the initial agreement indicate the persistence of ambiguity in the implementation of the contract. This study contributes to the development of empirical Islamic economic law studies concerning the implementation of ijarah contracts in informal labor relations within palm oil plantation communities.