Fair Labor Standards Act of 1939
- The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) states that United States companies must pay wages to all its working employees. This act gave the Secretary of Labor the right to determine the reasonable cost of wage. This act also established that the country would always have a minimum wage, which the government can amend based on current needs.
- The FLSA dictates that the maximum amount that an employee may work in a week is 40 hours. If an employee works more than 40 hours, he must earn overtime wages of at least one and a half times his regular hourly salary.
- The FLSA also set in place specific laws regarding child labor. The Secretary of Labor will initiate investigations and inspections of companies suspected of violating child labor laws.