Tag national minimum wage
Here are some key points about the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in the United States:
What is the National Minimum Wage?
The National Minimum Wage is the minimum hourly wage that employers are required to pay their employees in the United States. It is set by the federal government and applies to all states.
Current National Minimum Wage
As of January 2022, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
History of the National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage was first established in 1938 as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The initial minimum wage was set at $0.25 per hour. Since then, the minimum wage has been increased several times, with the most recent increase being in 2009, when it was raised to $7.25 per hour.
Who is covered by the National Minimum Wage?
The National Minimum Wage applies to all non-exempt employees who are covered by the FLSA. This includes:
- Most private-sector employees
- Federal, state, and local government employees
- Employees of non-profit organizations
- Employees of small businesses and large corporations
Exemptions from the National Minimum Wage
Some employees are exempt from the National Minimum Wage, including:
- Tipped employees (e.g., waiters, bartenders)
- Student workers
- Youth under the age of 20 (for the first 90 days of employment)
- Employees of small businesses with annual gross volume of sales of less than $500,000
- Certain agricultural workers
Efforts to increase the National Minimum Wage
There have been ongoing efforts to increase the National Minimum Wage, with some advocating for a higher minimum wage to help address issues such as poverty and income inequality. Some states and cities have also implemented their own minimum wage laws, which may be higher than the federal minimum wage.
Sources:
- U.S. Department of Labor: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wage Laws in the States
- National Employment Law Project: Minimum Wage Laws