The Fair Labor Standards Act is a Federal statute of general
application which establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, equal pay, and
child labor requirements that apply as provided in the Act. These
requirements are applicable, except where exemptions are provided, to
employees in those workweeks when they are engaged in interstate or
foreign commerce or in the production of goods for such commerce or are
employed in enterprises so engaged within the meaning of definitions set
forth in the Act. Employers having such employees are required to comply
with the Act's provisions in this regard unless relieved therefrom by
some exemption in the Act, 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.
