M. All of the details of the law elaborated upon above [in earlier lessons] regarding when an employer transgresses the prohibition of not paying a worker on time are only applicable when the employer is merely delaying the payment, but if  he completely withhold the wages and has no intention of paying at all, then he transgresses the prohibitions of: You shall not cheat your fellow (Vayikra19:13) and of: You shall not rob (ibid.), and he becomes disqualified to act as a witness. Our Sages said: “He who withholds an employee’s wages is as though he deprived him of his life” (Bava Metzia 112a). A person who completely withholds his worker’s wages transgresses five negative commandments and violates one positive commandment.