The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, is a Federal
statute of general application which establishes minimum wage, maximum
hours, overtime pay, equal pay, and child labor requirements that apply
as provided in the Act. Employers and employees in enterprises in which
retail sales of goods or services are made need to know how the Act
applies to employment in these enterprises so that they may understand
their rights and obligations under the law. All employees whose
employment has the relationship to interstate or foreign commerce which
the Act specifies are subject to the prescribed labor standards unless
specifically exempted from them. Employers having such employees are
required to comply with the Act's provisions in this regard and with
specified recordkeeping requirements contained in Part 516 of this
chapter. The law authorizes the Department of Labor to investigate for
compliance and, in the event of violations, to supervise the payment of
unpaid minimum wages or unpaid overtime compensation owing to any
employee. The law also provides for enforcement in the courts.
