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An Overview — Wages/Hours

The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was enacted in 1938 as a means of economic recovery from the Great Depression. According to Department of Labor (DOL) statistics, more than 143 million workers are affected by the FLSA’s provisions.

Purpose

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was intended to:

  • prevent wage exploitation of vulnerable workers
  • promote fair competition in interstate commerce by leveling labor costs
  • generate jobs by encouraging employers to hire more workers rather than extending the hours of their existing workforce.

Congress has amended the FLSA over the years to add provisions that regulate:

  • travel time (the Portal-to-Portal Act)
  • women's wages (the Equal Pay Act)
  • breaks for nursing mothers (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act).

Regulations

For covered employers, the FLSA sets:

  • minimum wage
  • overtime pay
  • recordkeeping requirements
  • child labor standards

For information on employers covered by the FLSA, see Covered employers. The FLSA applies to employment within the United States and its territories or possessions. Employees working abroad are not protected by the FLSA even if the employer has its...


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