Minimum Wages Overview of State Provisions and Federal Policy

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), enacted in 1938, is the federal legislation that establishes the general minimum wage that must be paid to all covered workers. While the FLSA mandates broad minimum wage coverage, states have the option of establishing minimum wage rates that are different from those set in it. Under the provisions of the FLSA, an individual is generally covered by the higher of the state or federal minimum wage. This book begins with a discussion of FLSA minimum wage coverage. It provides a summary of state minimum wage laws; and an examination of rates and mechanisms of adjustments in states with minimum wage levels above the FLSA rate.