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Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Press Releases
U.S. Department of Labor |
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MOBILE, Ala. -- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has announced the formation of a coordinated task force that will focus on investigations of child labor, minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act in southern Alabama and Mississippi.
Among the industries that will be a focus of the task force are establishments engaged in retail trade, as well as restaurants and construction companies in rural and metropolitan areas of both states.
“Employers need to understand that there are laws to protect younger workers and other vulnerable workers from abuses, and we are aggressively enforcing the laws that protect these employees,” said Ken Stripling, district director of the Wage and Hour Division’s Gulf Coast office located in Mobile, Ala.
Violations that have been found in the past among the industries now targeted have included the failure to pay overtime, as well as employing youth in hazardous occupations and allowing younger employees to work beyond the hours set by federal law. From June 1 to Labor Day, individuals ages 14 and 15 may work outside school hours after 7 a.m. until 9 p.m., but no more than eight hours on a non-school day and 40 hours in a non-school week. When school is in operation, the maximum hours are restricted to three hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week.
The FLSA requires that covered employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for all hours worked, plus time and one-half their regular rates of pay for hours worked more than 40 per week, unless otherwise exempt. For more information about the FLSA, call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or visit http://www.dol.gov/whd.
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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.