Is it legal for the company to delay paying wages during the epidemic?

it is illegal for the company to delay paying wages during the epidemic. Enterprises that are seriously affected by the epidemic can negotiate with employees and take measures such as salary adjustment, rotation and rest, and shortened working hours. But you can't default or deduct the wages of employees without reason.

Legal basis

Notice on Properly Handling the Labor Relations during the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia Infected in novel coronavirus II

If an enterprise has difficulties in production and operation due to the epidemic, it can stabilize its post by adjusting its salary, rotating its posts and taking breaks, shortening working hours, etc. through consultation with employees, and try not to lay off employees or reduce them as much as possible. Eligible enterprises can enjoy stable post subsidies according to regulations. If the enterprise stops production within a wage payment period, the enterprise shall pay the wages of its employees according to the standards stipulated in the labor contract. If the salary payment period exceeds one, if the employee provides normal labor, the salary paid by the enterprise to the employee shall not be lower than the local minimum wage standard. If the employees fail to provide normal labor, the enterprise shall pay living expenses, and the standard of living expenses shall be implemented in accordance with the measures stipulated by the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.