Which legislation governs minimum wage and overtime pay requirements?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the key piece of legislation that establishes minimum wage and overtime pay requirements in the United States. The FLSA was enacted in 1938 and aims to protect workers by ensuring they receive a minimum level of compensation for their labor and are fairly compensated for any hours worked beyond the standard full-time workweek.

Under the FLSA, employers are required to pay at least the federal minimum wage to employees and must compensate non-exempt employees at a rate of one and a half times their regular pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. This has significant implications for the workforce, as it helps to prevent exploitation and ensures a basic standard of living for workers.

In contrast, the other pieces of legislation mentioned focus on different aspects of labor and employment law. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination, the National Labor Relations Act primarily addresses the rights of workers to organize and engage in collective bargaining, and the Equal Pay Act addresses wage disparity based on gender. While all these laws play important roles in the broader context of labor relations and rights, the Fair Labor Standards Act specifically directly addresses minimum wage and overtime pay.