Fair Minimum Wage Act

Signed into law by George W. Bush
May 25, 2007

Signed into law in May 2007 by President George W. Bush, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 amended the FLSA to increase the national minimum wage. The Fair Minimum Wage Act was designed to incrementally increase the minimum wage from $5.85 to $7.25 per hour by July 24, 2009. The minimum wage has remained at that level ever since, though, importantly, some states have laws setting the minimum wage at a higher rate.

Enforcement & Remedies

Under the FLSA, employees who believe that their employer has failed to pay them overtime or has retaliated against them for disclosing concerns about their wages may file a claim in the appropriate U.S. District Court. In addition, the FLSA allows for what are referred to as “representative actions” which permit an employee to seek out the overtime wages for both himself and any “similarly-situated” employees who are also due overtime pay.