What Federal law provides minimum wage and overtime requirements for employers?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards for workers in the private sector as well as in federal, state, and local governments. This act is crucial as it ensures that workers are compensated fairly for their time and efforts, providing a legal framework that protects employees from exploitation.

The FLSA sets a federal minimum wage that must be paid to covered nonexempt employees, and it dictates that those who work more than 40 hours in a workweek are entitled to receive overtime pay at a rate not less than one and one-half times their regular rates of pay. This legislation plays a significant role in the labor market by promoting fair pay practices and safeguarding the rights of workers.

Other options, while important in their own contexts, do not directly address minimum wage and overtime issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Act primarily focuses on the safety and health regulations for workplace environments; the Equal Employment Opportunity Act deals with prohibiting discrimination in employment; and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act regulates pension and health plans in private industry. Each of these acts contributes to worker protections but does not ensure minimum wage and overtime compensation like the Fair Labor Standards Act does.