Federal Labor Laws (page 1 of 2)	
Federal Labor Laws	
In 1938, the U. S. government passed Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), also called "Wage and Hour Law." 
The FLSA sets a federal minimum wage.  First federal minimum wage was 25¢ per
 hour in 1938, and has 
increased to $7.25 per hour today.  States may pass laws that:  FIRST, sets a higher minimum wage for 
workers. For example, in Washington state, minimum wage is $13.69 per hour for 2021.   SECOND, sets 
higher overtime pay for workers.  For example,  federal law requires ove
rtime pay of time and one-half 
(150%) of regular pay  when workers work more than 40 hours in one workweek.  But, some states requ
ire 
overtime pay  when workers work more than 8 hours in one day.  In addition, federal law includes 
Hazardous Occupation Orders  (HOO), that make 17 jobs illegal for minors (workers under 18 years o
ld) 
to do for pay.  HOOs were passed to protect the health, safety, and well-being of minors on the job.	
Order #1:  Manufacturing and storage jobs involving explosives.  Minors cannot w
ork in  company around explosives or explosive products such as guns, bullets, fireworks.
Order #2:  Motor vehicle jobs.  Minors cannot be hired in jobs that require drivin
g on  public roads.  Pizza or flower delivery persons must be 18 years old.
Order #3:  Coal mine jobs.  Minors cannot be employed in underground 
work, in open pit, or surface of coal mine.  Minors may not be miners.
Order #4:  Logging and sawmilling occupations.  Minors cannot be hired 
to operate any sawmill, lath mill, shingle mill, or cooperage-stock mill
 for a lumber company.  A minor may work 
in the lumber company office doing office or general clean-up jobs, and may be part of surveying crews or forest 
maintenance crews.
Order #5:  Power-driven woodworking machine occupations.  Minors may not be hired to ope
rate power-driven 
woodworking machines, feed materials into such machines, or help operato
rs with such machines.  Minors may not 
be hired to set up, adjust, repair, oil, or clean power-driven woodworking machines.
Order #6:  Occupations involving exposure to radioactive substances and to ionizi
ng radiation.  Minors may not be 
hired for jobs where there is a chance of exposure to any radioactive ma
terial.  For minors to be employed, the 
exposure to ionizing radiation must be less than 0.5 rem per year.
Order #7:  Power-driven hoisting apparatus occupations.  Minors may not be employed to a
ssist in the operation of 
an elevator, crane, derrick, hoist, or forklift truck.   The Department of Labor has recently ruled that in auto repair 
shops, minors may be employed as helpers and work around hoists that lif
ts cars.  But, some states DO NOT 
ALLOW minors to work in auto repair shops as helpers.  Check with your teacher to find out what your state allows. 
Order #8:  Power-driven machine occupations.  Minors may not work as a operator or helpe
r on metal
rolling, punching, pressing, bending, hammering, and shearing machines. 
 Minors cannot help set up, 
adjust, repair, oil, or clean these machines.  Metal working machines that minors may 
operate include 
milling machines, running machines, planing machines, grinding, and bori
ng function machines.
Order #9:  Jobs related to mining, other than coal. Minors may not work in or aroun
d mines except 
in the office, supply house, laboratory, and other areas considered safe.  Minors may not be miners.

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Order #10:  Occupations involving slaughtering, meat-packing, processing
, or rendering.  Minors may not be hired to 
slaughter animals or be employed as meat cutters.
Order #11:  Power-driven bakery machine jobs.  Minors may not be hired to operate power  
bakery machines such as 
dough mixers, bread dividers, molding machines, dough sheeters, bread sl
icers, or wrapping machines.  Minors may 
operate simple machines such as flour sifters, pretzel machines, pie dough rolling machines, and crimping machines.
Order #12:  Power-driven paper products machine jobs.  Minors may not be hired in jobs op
erating or helping with 
machines that make paper products.  These machines include wirestitchers, band saws, corrugating machines, 
guillotine paper cutters, scrap paper balers, and punch presses.
Order #13:  Occupations making brick and tile.  Minors may not be hired 
to help make bricks, clay products, or silica 
refractory products (tile).  Minors may work in offices, labs, storerooms, or drying departments of these companies.
Order #14:  Occupations involved in the operation of power-driven circular saws, band saws, and guillotine shears.  
Minors may not be hired to do any job using circular saws, band saws, or
 guillotine shears.  
Minors may not help set up, adjust, repair, oil, or clean these items.
Order #15:  Occupations involved in wrecking, demolition, and ship break
ing operations.  
Minors may not be hired to do cleanup or salvage work for the demolishin
g or dismantling 
of buildings, bridges, steeples, towers, chimneys, ships, or other struc
tures or vessels.
Order #16:  Roofing jobs.  Minors may not be hired for any roofing job.  Minors cannot be 
hired to install, repair, maintain, or paint any roof.
Order #17:  Occupations in excavation operations.  Minors may not be hir
ed to 
dig holes or tunnels that are dug either manually or by machines.  There is one exception.  Minors may be hired to 
dig holes that are not over four feet deep at any point with shovels.
1.  For what do the initials FLSA stand?  
2.  At Federal minimum wage, what is the worker's 
pay for 8 hours: a) in 1938?  b) for today?
3.  States may pass laws that do what 2 things?  
4.  When is overtime pay required by federal law?  
b) When do some states require overtime pay?
5.  a) What do HOOs make illegal?  b) Define 
  "minors"?  c) Why were HOO passed?
6.  Order #1: a) For which type of company may 
minors not work?  b) Why do you think is it not 
safe for minors to be hired to make fireworks?
7.  Order #2: a) Minors may not be hired for what 
job?  b) Give one example.
8.  Order #5:  List 5 illegal job tasks for minors.
9.  Order #7: a) May minors drive forklifts?  
  b) What has the Department of Labor ruled?
  c) What may states not allow? 10. 
Order #8: a) List 3 metalworking machines 
employers may not hire minors to operate.  
  b) List 3 machines that are legal to operate.
11.  Order #10: Why do you think it is unsafe for 
minors to be employed as meat cutters?
12.  Order #11: a) List 3 bakery machines 
  employers may not hire minors to operate.  
  b) List 3 machines that are legal to operate.
13.  Order #14: Minors may not be hired to use what 
3 types of equipment? 
14.  According to Order #16, which 4 types of 
  roofing tasks are illegal for minors to do?
15.  Describe the holes minors may be hired to dig.
16.  Do you think it is OK for the government to 
require workers to be age 18 before doing these 
jobs? b) Give a reason for your answer.
17. Of the 17 Orders, which order do you think has  the most dangerous jobs for those under age 18?