Federal Minimum wage raised to $6.55

Written by Madison Padilla

Wednesday, 06 August 2008 15:08

The United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division raised the federal minimum wage from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour on July 24th.

Some policies have changed while others have remained the same.

Youth employment regulations state that the employee can’t be younger than 16 years of age to work in the majority of non-farm jobs. Non-farm jobs the Secretary of Labor pronounces as hazardous require an age limit of at least 18. Other youth regulations can be viewed here.

Employers who violate the youth employment conditions will be charged $11,000 per violation and a $1,100 fine will be charged to employers who violate the overtime and minimum wage conditions.

Overtime pay rate is at least 1 1?2 the amount of regular pay for every hour over 40 in a single workweek. There are some exceptions to the minimum wage. Workers under the age of 20 may receive earnings of $4.25 an hour within the first 90 consecutive days of employment with a company.

Some jobs can be exempt from paying minimum wage with special certificates from the Department of Labor. Apprentices, student learners, workers with disabilities and some full-time students would fall under the exempt category.

The U. S. Dept. of Labor Wage and Hour Division’s website, www.wagehour.dol.gov, says that Wyoming, Kansas and Georgia have a minimum wage that is lower than the Federal. Five states have no minimum wage and 33 states (including the Virgin Islands) are higher than the Federal. Twelve states (including Guam and Puerto Rico) have a minimum wage that is the same as the Federal.

The Federal minimum wage will change again July 24, 2009 from $6.55 to $7.25 an hour. According to the U. S. Dep. Of Labor Wage and Hour Division’s website, minimum wage in California and Massachusetts is $8.00 an hour and Wyoming’s is $5.15 an hour. Just be happy you’re not in Kansas with $2.65 an hour.

It is the law for employers to post signs or posters explaining the rights of minimum wage. For additional information on pay regulations, refer to the websites above or call 1-866-4-USWAGE.

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