What Are Labor Laws?
Labor laws are laws which are aimed to provide protections in the workplace. This article summarizes the different types of labor laws, explains several key federal labor laws and discusses who enforces these laws.
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What are Labor Laws?
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Labor laws regulate the rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees. Labor laws can be either state-based laws or federal laws. In many ways, state labor laws mimic the provisions of the federal law with respect to such items as the prevailing wage and child labor. However, state labor laws also contain provisions which address different issues such as cooperative educational working programs and other types of issues. Federal laws have national applicability. Many of the federal laws have specially designed federal agencies which oversee that the regulations are being met in the workplace, such as the Occupational Safety and Hazard Commission, which is the agency that handles the Occupational Safety and Hazard Act.
Occupational Safety and Hazard Act
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A popular federal labor law is the Occupational Safety and Health Act. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Commission website, the mission is to "prevent work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths." Ultimately, the purpose of the law is to provide for a safe workplace. The Occupational Health and Safety Commission regulates the workplace by promulgating extensive regulations regarding everything from workplace lighting to the type of safety equipment an employer must supply at a work site.
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Fair Labor Standards Act
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The Fair Labor Standards Act is a federal law which sets the federal standard for minimum wage, sets payment criteria for overtime work and wage garnishment. The Act was established originally in order to protect against child labor abuses but has expanded throughout history. Today, the Act continues to contain child labor provisions which aim to prevent the abuse of child labor.
Popular Federal Labor Laws
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There are many other popular labor laws. One set of laws is collectively known as Worker's Compensation Laws. These laws govern the compensation one receives upon injury or death in the workplace. Other popular labor laws include the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (also known as "ERISA"), the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Federal Employees Compensation Act. A list of all of the federal labor laws may be viewed at the Department of Labor's office of Assistance Policy, at the link below under "Additional Resources."
Who Enforces Labor Laws?
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Labor laws may be enforced by a variety of entities. First, the Department of Labor may enforce the law. Every state has a local office for the Department of Labor, so one can contact that office for further information. In addition, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (also known as the "EEOC") can enforce labor laws pertaining to discrimination issues. Furthermore, the National Labor Relations Board (also known as "NLRB") regulates certain actions of employers and employees. Finally, a private individual may file a law suit based upon violations of the federal law.
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