您的位置: 首页 » 法律资料网 » 法律法规 »

PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE

作者:法律资料网 时间:2024-05-15 22:25:11  浏览:8005   来源:法律资料网
下载地址: 点击此处下载

PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE ——附加英文版

Hong Kong


PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE
 (CHAPTER 380)
 CONTENTS
  
  ion
  
  I    PRELIMINARY
  hort title
  nterpretation
  
  II    PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND BOARD
  stablishment and incorporation of Wages on Insolvency Fund Board
  unctions and powers of the Board
  oard to be subject to directions of the Governor in Council
  
  III   FUND
  stablishment of Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund
  ayments from the Fund
  
  IV    FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
  inancial year and estimates
  ank account
  Investment of moneys
  Accounts
  Auditors
  Statements and reports to be laid on table of Legislative Council
  Costs of administering the Fund
  
  V    PAYMENT FROM THE FUND
  Entitlement to apply for ex gratia payment
  Payment
  Review by Board
  Additional power of Commissioner
  Verification of application
  Decisions under this Part not to be challenged
  Power of Commissioner to delegate
  Payment not to affect right to legal aid
  Proof by certificate
  
  VI    RECOVERY OF PAYMENTS
  Subrogation
  Recovery of payment made by mistake
  
  VII   MISCELLANEOUS
  Offences
  Regulations
  Power of Governor to amend Schedule
  Transitional
  
  dule Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund Board
  
  rovide for the establishment of a board to administer the
Protection
  ages on Insolvency Fund, to provide for payment of monies from
the
  to employees whose employers become insolvent; and for matters
  ected therewith or incidental thereto.
  April 1985] L. N. 100 of 1985
 PART I PRELIMINARY
  
  hort title
  Ordinance may be cited as the Protection of Wages on 
Insolvency
  nance.
  nterpretation
  his Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires--
  licant" means any person who would, on the winding up of a company,
be
  tled to priority under section 265 (1) (b), (c), (ca) or (cc) of 
the
  anies Ordinance (Cap. 32) or who would, on a bankruptcy, be 
entitled
  riority under section 38 (1) (b), (c), (ca) or (cc) of the 
Bankruptcy
  nance (Cap. 6) other than a person whose employer is an individual
and
  is a member of the family of that employer and who dwells in the 
same
  ling as that employer; (Amended 48 of 1987 s. 2; 38 of 1989 s.
2)
  kruptcy petition" means a bankruptcy petition under the 
Bankruptcy
  nance (Cap. 6);
  rd" means the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund Board
established
  ection 3;
  missioner" means the Commissioner for Labour;
  pany" means any body which is liable to be wound up 
under the
  anies Ordinance (Cap. 32);
  ancial year" means the financial year of the Fund fixed under 
section
  Fund" means the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund referred
to in
  ion 6;
  y" has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the 
Business
  stration Ordinance (Cap. 310);
  everance payment" means a severance payment payable by an
employer to
  mployee under section 31B (1) of the Employment Ordinance (Cap.
57);
  laced 45 of 1991 s. 2)
  "wages" means wages or salary in respect of
  h an applicant would, on the winding up of a company, be entitled 
to
  rity under section 265 (1) (b) or (c) of the Companies Ordinance
(Cap.
  or who would, on a bankruptcy, be entitled to priority under 
section
  1) (b) or (c) of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6), save 
that the
  nt specified in section 265 (1) (b) or (c) of the Companies
Ordinance
  . 32) or section 38 (1) (b) or (c) of the Bankruptcy Ordinance 
(Cap.
  as the case may be) as the maximum amount in respect of 
which an
  icant would be entitled to priority, or any amount 
substituted
  efor under section 265 (1A) or (1B) of the Companies Ordinance 
(Cap.
  or (as the case may be) section 38 (2), (2A) or (2B) of the
Bankruptcy
  nance (Cap. 6), shall not apply; (Amended 15 of 1993 s. 2)
  "wages in lieu of notice" means wages in lieu of notice in respect 
of
  h an applicant would, on the winding up of a company, be entitled 
to
  rity under section 265 (1) (cc) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 
32),
  ould, in a bankruptcy, be entitled to priority under section 38
(1)
  of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6), save that the amount 
specified
  ection 265 (1) (cc) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) or
section 38
  (cc) of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6) (as the case may be)
as the
  mum amount in respect of which an applicant would be 
entitled to
  rity shall not apply; (Added 48 of 1987 s. 2. Amended 15 of 1993
s. 2)
  ding-up petition" means a winding-up petition under Part V or X
of the
  anies Ordinance (Cap. 32).
 PART II PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND BOARD
  
  stablishment and incorporation of Wages on Insolvency Fund Board
  There is hereby established a board to be known as the Protection 
of
  s on Insolvency Fund Board and in the Chinese language as which 
shall
  body corporate.
  The Board shall consist of a Chairman appointed under the Schedule
and
  more than 10 members appointed by the Governor as follows--
  subject to paragraph (b) not more than 4 public officers;
  equal numbers of persons who, in his opinion, represent employers 
and
  ons who, in his opinion, represent employees.
  The Governor shall give notice of each appointment by notice in 
the
  tte.
  The Schedule shall have effect with respect to the Board.
  unctions and powers of the Board
  The Board shall have the following functions--
  to administer the Fund;
  to make recommendations to the Governor with respect to the 
rate of
  ; and
  to perform such other duties as are imposed or other powers as 
are
  erred on it by this Ordinance.
  The Board may do all such things as are necessary for, or 
incidental
  onducive to, the better carrying out of the functions of the Board
and
  in particular, but without prejudice to the generality 
of the
  going--
  hold, acquire or lease all kinds of property whether 
movable or
  vable;
  sell or otherwise dispose of all kinds of property whether movable 
or
  vable;
  subject to section 10, invest its funds in such manner and to 
such
  nt as it thinks necessary or expedient; and
  with the prior consent of the Financial Secretary, borrow 
money in
  manner and on such securities or terms as it thinks expedient.
  oard to be subject to directions of the Governor in Council
  Governor in Council may give to the Board such directions as he
thinks
  with respect to the exercise of its functions under this Ordinance
and
  Board shall comply with any such direction.
 PART III FUND
  
  stablishment of Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund
  fund known as the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund 
established
  r the provisions of section 21 of the Business Registration
Ordinance
  . 310) in force immediately before the commencement of this 
Ordinance
  l be deemed to be established and continue in existence under 
this
  ion, and shall consist of--
  moneys that are paid by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue under 
that
  ion whether paid before or after the commencement of this
Ordinance;
  moneys recovered under Part VI;
  interest and other income derived from the moneys and 
investments
  rising the Fund; and
  other moneys lawfully paid into the Fund.
  ayments from the Fund
  e shall be paid from the Fund the following--
  payments to applicants under section 16;
  expenses incurred by the Board for the purposes of this Ordinance;
  capital, interest and charges in respect of any loan; and
  any other sums required or permitted to be paid by the Fund under
this
  nance.
 PART IV FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
  
  inancial year and estimates
  The Board may, from time to time, with the prior approval 
of the
  rnor, fix a period to be the financial year of the Fund.
  In each financial year, before a date to be fixed by the Governor,
the
  d shall submit to the Governor, for his approval, estimates 
of the
  me and expenditure of the Fund for the next financial year:
  ided that the estimates for the first financial year of the Fund
shall
  ubmitted as soon as practicable after the commencement 
of this
  nance.
  The Governor shall consider the estimates submitted to 
him under
  ection (2) and may approve or reject them and, in the 
case of
  ction, may require the Board to resubmit the estimates 
modified in
  manner and within such time as the Governor may direct.
  The Board may, from time to time, vary the estimates approved 
under
  ection (3) and shall, as soon as practicable, deliver to the 
Governor
  atement in writing containing details of any variation.
  ank account
  Board shall open and maintain an account with a bank approved by 
the
  ncial Secretary and shall pay all moneys of the Fund 
into that
  unt.
  Investment of moneys
  moneys of the Fund that are not immediately required by the Board 
may
  
  deposited on fixed term or call deposit or in a savings account
in
  bank licensed under the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155); or
  with the prior approval of the Financial Secretary, invested in 
such
  r investments as the Board thinks fit.
  Accounts
  Board shall--
  keep and maintain such accounts and records of all transactions
of the
  as the Director of Accounting Services may require; and
  after the end of each financial year cause to be prepared a 
statement
  he accounts of the Fund which shall include an income and 
expenditure
  unt and balance sheet and shall be signed by the Chairman.
  Auditors
  The Board shall at the commencement of each financial year 
appoint
  tors, who shall be entitled to have access to all books of 
account,
  hers and other records kept by the Board and to 
require such
  rmation and explanations as they may think fit.
  The auditors shall audit the statement of accounts prepared 
under
  ion 11 and shall report thereon to the Board.
  Statements and reports to be laid on table of Legislative Council
  The Board shall, within 6 months after the end of each financial 
year
  uch further time as the Governor may for any particular year 
allow,
  it to the Governor a report on the activities of the Board for 
that
  ncial year including copies of the statement of accounts 
prepared
  r section 11 and the report made under section 12.
  The Governor shall cause the reports and statements received 
by him
  r subsection
  to be laid on the table of the Legislative Council.
  Costs of administering the Fund
  All costs and expenses incurred by the Government in
administering the
  shall be a charge upon general revenue.
  The Financial Secretary may direct that a supervision fee 
to be
  rmined by him, in relation to such period as may be determined
by him,
  l be charged against the income of the Fund and shall at a 
time
  rmined by him be paid to him by the Board from the Fund and paid 
by
  into general revenue.
 PART V PAYMENT FROM THE FUND
  
  Entitlement to apply for ex gratia payment
  Subject to this Part, an applicant to whom--
  wages are due and unpaid;
  wages in lieu of notice are due and unpaid; or
  the liability to be paid a severance payment has arisen 
and the
  rance payment is unpaid, whether or not the severance payment is 
then
  may apply for an ex gratia payment from the Fund in respect of 
the
  s, wages in lieu of notice or the severance payment, as the case 
may
  or all or any of them. (Replaced 38 of 1989 s. 3)
  An application under subsection (1) (in this Part called an
  lication" ) shall be made to the Commissioner in writing in a 
form
  oved by him. (Amended 48 of 1987 s. 3)
  No applicant shall apply for payment from the Fund in respect of 
any
  s for services rendered before 1 April 1985.
  No applicant shall apply for payment from the Fund in respect of
wages
  ieu of notice arising out of a contract of employment 
terminated
  re the commencement of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency
  ndment) Ordinance 1987 (48 of 1987). (Added 48 of 1987 s. 3)
  No applicant shall apply for payment from the Fund in respect 
of a
  rance payment the liability for payment of which arose 
before the
  encement of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency 
(Amendment)
  nance 1989 (38 of 1989). (Added 38 of 1989 s. 3)
  
  Payment
  Subject to subsections (1B) and (2) where it appears 
to the
  issioner that an employer has failed to pay any wages, wages in 
lieu
  otice or severance payment, as the case may be, or all or any of 
them
  n applicant and that--
  in the case of an employer who is not a company--
  a bankruptcy petition has been presented against him; or
  he has committed an act of bankruptcy within the meaning of
section 3
  he Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6) but a petition cannot be 
presented
  nst him by reason of section 6 (1) (a) of that Ordinance; or
(Replaced
  f 1988 s. 2)
  in the case of an employer who is a company, a winding-uppetition 
has
  presented against that employer,
  ay make an ex gratia payment to the applicant out of the Fund of 
the
  nt of the wages, wages in lieu of notice or severance payment,
as the
  may be, or all or any of them.
  When the Commissioner makes a payment under subsection (1) (a) 
(ii),
  hall give notice of the payment and the reasons therefor 
in the
  tte. (Added 41 of 1988 s. 2)
  Where an application has been made in respect of a severance 
payment
  h is not due at the date of the application, the 
Commissioner may
  r consideration of the application until the severance payment
becomes
  (Added 38 of 1989 s. 4)
  The Commissioner shall not make any payment under subsection
(1)--
  to the applicant unless the applicant has verified his
application by
  atutory declaration in a form approved by the Commissioner;
  ) of an amount exceeding $18,000 in respect of wages; (Replaced
15 of
  s. 3)
  ) (Repealed 15 of 1993 s. 3)
  in respect of wages for services rendered more than 4 months prior 
to
  date of application;
  in respect of wages in lieu of notice--
  ) of an amount exceeding--
  the equivalent of 1 month's wages of the applicant; or
  $6,000,
  hever is the lesser; or (Amended 15 of 1993 s. 3)
  subject to subsection (2A), which became due more than 4 months
prior
  he date of application; or (Replaced 38 of 1989 s. 4)
  in respect of a severance payment--
  of an amount exceeding the aggregate of $8,000 and half of that 
part
  he applicant's entitlement to severance payment in excess of 
$8,000;
  Replaced 45 of 1991 s. 3)
  the liability for payment of which arose more than 4 months prior 
to
  date of application. (Added 38 of 1989 s. 4)
  Subsection (2) (e) (ii) shall not apply to wages in lieu of 
notice
  ing out of a contract of employment terminated before the
commencement
  he Protection of Wages on Insolvency (Amendment) Ordinance 1989
(38 of
  ). (Added 38 of 1989 s. 4)
  ) The Legislative Council may be
  lution amend the period specified in subsection (2) (e) (i) (A)
or the
  nt specified in subsection (2) (b), (e) (i) (B) or (f) (i). 
(Added 48
  987 s. 4. Amended 15 of 1993 s. 3)
  nded 48 of 1987 s. 4; 38 of 1989 s. 4)
  
  Review by Board
  Any applicant aggrieved by any decision of the Commissioner 
under
  ion 16 may in writing--
  request the Commissioner to give reasons for that decision; and
  after being given reasons under paragraph  (a), 
request  the
  issioner to refer the application to the Board.
  Upon receiving a request from an applicant under subsection (1) 
(b),
  Commissioner shall forward all documents relating to the 
application
  he Chairman of the Board.
  The Board may confirm or vary any decision of the Commissioner 
on an
  ication referred to it under this section or may for those 
purposes
  ire the Commissioner to make further inquiries relating 
to the
  ication.
  Additional power of Commissioner
  Notwithstanding that in any particular case a petition referred
to in
  ion 16 (1) (a) (i) or (b) has not been presented against an 
employer,
  Commissioner may, subject to subsection (2) of that section, 
make an
  ratia payment under that section in that case if in his opinion--
  nded, 41 of 1988 s. 3)
  the employer employs less than 20 employees;
  sufficient evidence exists to support the presentation of a 
petition
  hat case on the ground--
  if the employer is a company, that he is unable to pay his debts;
or
  if the employer is a person other than a company, that 
he has
  itted an act of bankruptcy; and
  it is unreasonable or uneconomic to present a petition in that
case.
  Where the Commissioner exercises his discretion under 
subsection (1)
  ake payment, he shall give notice in the Gazette stating that,
in his
  ion, sufficient evidence exists to support the 
presentation of a
  tion on the ground--
  if the employer is a company, that he is unable to pay his debts;
or
  if the employer is a person other than a company, that 
he has
  itted an act of bankruptcy.
  Nothing in subsection (2) shall require the Commissioner to give 
more
  one notice in respect of each employer.
  No action shall lie against the Commissioner in respect of any 
notice
  n under subsection (2).
  
  Verification of application
  For the purpose of verifying any application under section 15, 
or if
  equired by the Board under section 17 (3), the Commissioner may 

不分页显示   总共2页  1 [2]

  下一页

下载地址: 点击此处下载

关于命名国家园林城市和县城的通报

住房和城乡建设部


关于命名国家园林城市和县城的通报

建城〔2010〕209号


各省、自治区住房和城乡建设厅,北京市园林绿化局,上海市绿化和市容管理局,重庆市园林事业管理局,天津市市容和园林管理委员会,新疆生产建设兵团建设局,总后营房部工程局:
  根据《关于做好2009年国家园林城市申报有关工作的通知》、《国家园林城市申报与评审办法》和《国家园林县城评选办法》,我部组织对2009年申报国家园林城市、县城的市、县进行了综合评审。余姚市、信阳市、延吉市和凤县、新安县按照我部《关于反馈国家园林城市、县城综合评审意见的函》的要求,积极落实整改。经重新审查研究,决定命名余姚市、信阳市和延吉市为国家园林城市,命名凤县和新安县为国家园林县城。
  希望被命名的城市和县城,认真总结“国家园林城市、县城”创建经验,深入贯彻落实科学发展观,按照建设资源节约型和环境友好型社会的要求,进一步做好城镇园林绿化工作,加强人居生态环境建设,为全面建设小康社会作出新的贡献。
                     中华人民共和国住房和城乡建设部
                        二〇一〇年十二月十日

浅谈国际货物贸易中的预期违约制度

李琳(中国政法大学研究生院国际法学院2003级)


内容摘要:预期违约是《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》中规定的违反合同的一种重要形式。在合同法上,建立预期违约制度以防范合同生效后至履行前发生在合同履行上的风险对双方当事人及社会来说都是十分必要的。本文意在在同相关制度比较的基础上结合《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》的规定,对国际货物贸易中的预期违约问题作一简要地介绍。
关键词:预期违约;实际违约;不安抗辩;《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》

预期违约制度是合同法的重要内容,完善的预期违约制度是合同顺利履行的有力保障之一。《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》作为国际贸易法统一化运动的产物,是有关国家在消除国际货物买卖冲突、促进国际贸易发展方面的重大成果。该公约借鉴了英美法上的预期违约制度并建立了自己的体系。本文将对预期违约制度进行简要地介绍,并在将其与相关制度比较的基础上,对《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》中的预期违约制度进行初步探讨。
一 预期违约制度概述
预期违约(Anticipatory Breach of Contract)是英美法上独创的制度。合同从订立到履行的过程中可能发生种种事由致使合同无法履行或使合同履行给债务人带来不利的后果。预期违约制度正是为解决合同生效后直至履行前发生在合同履行上的危险而设立的。它充分体现了合同法上的诚实信用原则和公平原则,对平衡双方当事人的利益有重要意义。同时,这一制度可有效减少实际违约所造成的损失,在很大程度上避免社会资源的人为浪费。
预期违约,亦称先期违约,是指合同订立之后履行期到来之前,一方表示拒绝履行合同的意图 。在英美法中,预期违约包括两种不同的类型,即明示预期违约和默示预期违约。明示预期违约制度起源于英国法院1853年关于霍切斯特诉德拉图尔(Hochster v.De La Tour)的判决,它是一方当事人在合同规定的履行期到来之前明确肯定的表示他将不履行合同。默示预期违约制度起源于英国法院1894年辛格夫人诉辛格(Synge v.Synge)一案,它是指一方当事人在履行合同期限到来之前以其自身的行为或某些客观情况表明他将不履行合同后不能履行合同。
明示预期违约应具备以下条件:
1、违约方必须明确肯定地向对方作出违约表示,这种表示必须是违约方自愿、肯定、不附
加条件的表示。
2、违约方必须在合同履行期到来之前作出违约表示。
3、违约方作出的违约表示必须说明其将要违约的内容,不能仅仅表示履约困难、不愿履行
等不确定的意思。
4、违约方拒绝履行合同主要义务。所谓主要义务,即合同义务的主要部分,其履行与否决定着当事人能否得到他期待从合同中得到的利益。拒绝履行合同主要义务应对相对人从合同履行中获得的利益有重大影响,致使合同目的落空。若拒绝履行的仅是合同部分义务且不妨碍债权人追求的根本目的,则不构成预期违约。
5、违约表示必须无正当理由。所谓正当理由,是指债务人有权作出拒绝履行表示的理由。主要包括:(1)债务人享有法定解约权。(2)合同具有无效的因素。(3)债务人因合同显失公平而享有撤销权。(4)合同关系自始不存在。(5)债务人享有抗辩权,如同时履行抗辩权、不安抗辩权。(6)由法定免责事由,如不可抗力致使合同履行不能等 。
默示预期违约应具备以下条件:
1、违约方以自己的行为使对方预见到合同履行期到来时已无法履行,如资金困难、濒临破产、标的物已转卖等
2、一方当事人预见对方到期将不会或不能履行合同义务须有相应的证据。
3、要求提供履行担保的一方不能在合理期间内提供充分的担保。
明示预期违约和默示预期违约作为预期违约的两种方式均发生在合同有效成立后至履行期限到来之前,均对债权人的期待权造成侵害。但二者又有区别,主要表现在:
1、构成要件不同 上文已有详述。
2、违约者的主观方面不同 明示预期违约表现为一方能够履行而不愿意履行,违约者的主观状态只能是故意。默示预期违约表现为两种情形:(1)履行不能,即一方当事人客观上没有能力履行合同。这一判断往往是从一些客观事实推测而得出的,如一方出现资金困难,负债过多难以清偿等等。(2)一方当事人客观上能够履行但不打算履行合同。这一判断往往是从当事人的某些行为推测得出的,如该当事人信誉不佳、部分货物已转卖等。因此,默示预期违约中,违约者主观上可能出于故意,也可能出于过失。
3、救济措施不同 明示预期违约发生后,受害方有权选择救济措施:(1)不接受对方预期违约的表示,待履行期限到来之后,要求对方实际履行。如果届时对方不实际履行,再按实际违约要求对方承担责任。(2)接受对方预期违约的意思表示,立即解除合同,并可以要求对方赔偿损失。而默示预期违约发生后,受害方应首先通知对方,要求其在一个合理的期限内提供将来能够履行合同的担保。在必要、合理的情况下可以中止履行合同,而不是立即解除合同。如果对方在收到通知后的一个合理期限内未提供将来履行合同的充分保证,则默示预期违约转化为明示预期违约,受害方有权选择相应的救济措施。
二 同相关制度的比较
(一)预期违约与实际违约
预期违约是与实际违约相对应而存在的。预期违约的两种形态都属于在履行期到来之前毁约,它与实际违约的根本区别在于二者发生的时间不同。将预期违约与实际违约相比较,可以得出如下几个方面的差异:
1、违约行为发生的时间不同 预期违约发生在合同有效成立之后履行期到来之前。实际违约发生在合同履行期届至以后。
2、违约行为所侵害的对象不同 预期违约侵害的是相对人的期待利益、信赖利益。实际违约侵害的是现实的债权。
3、违约的形态不同 预期违约是对整个合同的毁弃,是对诺言的完全违反。实际违约则包括不履行、延迟旅行、不适当履行和其他不完全履行等多种样态 。
4、违约的行为表现不同 预期违约是将来不履行合同的现实危险,可以转化为实际违约或因违约意思的撤销而消失。实际违约则是现实的、客观存在的违约行为。
5、违约的救济方式不同 因预期违约在一定条件下能够转化为实际违约,故而预期违约有其特有的救济方式,前文已述及。
(二)预期违约与不安抗辩
预期违约是英美法上独创的制度,不安抗辩是大陆法上的概念,而二者在相当程度上起到了相同的作用。大陆法系的通说认为,在清偿期到来之前,债权人并不享有实际请求履行的权利,因而此时并不发生债务人不履行债务的责任。履行期限是为了债务人的利益而设立的,债务人可以在履行期限到来之前提前履行,而债权人则无权请求提前履行。为贯彻公平原则,避免先履行一方蒙受损失,大陆法系发展出了不安抗辩权制度,具体是指“当事人一方应向他方先为给付者,如他方之财产于订约后明显减少,有难为给付之虑时,在对方未为对待给付或提出担保之前,得拒绝自己之给付” 。不安抗辩权具有留置担保的性质,在对方履行对待给付或提供担保后归于消灭。
依传统民法,不安抗辩权的发生须具备三个条件:(1)双务合同中双方当事人履行合同义务存在时间上的先后顺序。(2)双务合同成立后对方的财产状况发生恶化。(3)对方财产的明显减少有可能影响其给付义务的履行。从构成要件上看,不安抗辩与默示预期违约有较大的相似之处。二者都是在合同订立后履行期限届满前,一方未明确表示将不履行合同义务,但另一方根据客观情况预见其有届时不会或不能履行合同的危险。同时,在解决双务合同中另一方因为无履行能力、不愿履行等可能给提前履行的一方造成不应有的损失等问题上,预期违约与不安抗辩具有相同的机能。
但是,预期违约与不安抗辩也存在着相当的差异而且各有优势,二者的主要区别如下:
1、法律性质不同 预期违约在实质上是一种违约行为。不安抗辩权则是抗辩权的一种,目的在于对抗请求权,其实质是债务人免除先为给付义务的特殊法律理由 。
2、前提条件不同 预期违约制度不以双务合同当事人之履行存在先后顺序为前提,而不安抗辩权行使的前提条件之一是当事人的债务履行存在先后之分,若没有履行时间的先后顺序,则应适用同时履行抗辩权。
3、权利主体不同 预期违约可由任何一方当事人主张,而不安抗辩权的权利主体只能是有先履行义务的一方。
4、行使权利所依据的原因不同 不安抗辩依据的原因是他方财产于缔约后明显减少有难为对待给付之虑。而判断默示预期违约所依据的理由并不限于财产的减少,也包括债务人的经济状况不佳、商业信誉不好、债务人在准备履行及履行合同过程中的行为或债务人的实际状况表明债务人存在违约的危险等情况。因此,判断预期违约所依据的条件更为宽泛。
5、过错是否作为构成要件不同 预期违约制度考虑了当事人的主观过错问题。而不安抗辩权的成立无需对方主观上存在过错,其财产在订约后明显减少系何种原因所致在所不问。
三 《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》中的预期违约制度
《联合国国际货物买卖合同公约》(以下简称“公约”)也采用了预期违约的概念。预期违约是公约中规定的违反合同的一种重要形式。
公约在第五章第一节第71条、第72条对预期违约做出了规定。第71条规定:“(1)如果订立合同后,另一方当事人由于下列原因显然将不能履行其大部分主要义务,一方当事人可以中止履行义务:他履行义务的能力或他的信用有严重缺陷;他在准备履行合同或履行合同中的行为。(2)如果卖方在上一款所述的理由明显化以前已将货物装运,他可以阻止将货物交给买方,即是买方持有有权获得货物的单据。本款规定只与买方和卖方对货物的权利有关。(3)中止履行义务的一方当事人不论是在货物发运前还是发运后,都必须立即通知另一方当事人,如经另一方当事人对履行义务提供充分保证,则他必须继续履行义务。”第72条规定:“(1)如果在履行合同日期之前,明显看出一方当事人将根本违反合同,另一方当事人可以宣告合同无效。(2)如果时间许可,打算宣告合同无效的一方当事人必须向另一方当事人发出合理的通知,使他可以对履行义务提供充分的保证。(3)如果另一方当事人已声明他将不履行其义务,则上一款的规定不予适用。 ”
根据公约的上述规定,对于预期违约的认定,公约主要确立了以下两个标准 :
1.主观标准 即以合同一方当事人的主观判断断定另一方当事人将不履行合同的大部分义务。从某种意义上说,这一标准完全修正了英美等国关于预期违约的理论,不是由预期违约方明示或默示声明他将不履行合同,而将判断的主动权交与另一方。同时,对预期违约的判断并非随心所欲,而必须受到客观条件的严格限制。提出对方预期违约的当事人必须是有充分理由从一系列客观存在的条件中予以判定的,如对方当事人经济状况、商业信誉不佳或已将货物转卖等。否则,若仅凭主观臆断而中止本应承担的合同义务,本身便是违反合同,须承担由此而产生的一切法律责任。