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Section 33

of Employment Act 1955

ActIn forceProvision 33 of 97

Section 33

(1)

Where a principal in the course of or for the purposes of his trade or business, contracts with a contractor for the execution by or under the contractor of the whole or any part of any work undertaken by the principal, and any wages are due to any employee by the contractor or any sub-contractor under the contractor for work done in the course of the performance of the contract, the principal and the contractor and any such sub-contractor (not being the employer) shall be jointly and severally liable with the employer to pay such wages as if that employee had been immediately employed by the principal and by the contractor and any such sub-contractor:

WJW23/0686 Act 265.indd 39 04/10/2023 5:25 PM

Act 265

Provided that—

(a)

in the case of a contract for constructional work the principal shall not be liable for the payment of wages under this subsection unless he is also a constructional contractor or a housing developer;

(b)

the principal, and the contractor and any sub-contractor

(not being the employer), shall not be liable to any employee under this subsection for more than the wages due to him for any three consecutive months; and

(c)

the employee shall have instituted proceedings against the principal for the recovery of his wages or made a complaint to the Director General under Part XV within ninety days from the date on which such wages became due for payment by his employer in accordance with the provisions for the payment of wages contained in