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Minimum Wage

Minimum wage is the lowest amount of money per hour that an employer must legally pay their employees for their work. It is set by federal or state law to ensure that workers receive fair compensation for their labor.

Example #1

For example, if the minimum wage in a particular state is $10 per hour, an employer cannot pay their employees less than that amount for each hour worked.

Example #2

If an employee works 40 hours in a week at a minimum wage of $8 per hour, they should receive at least $320 for that week's work.

Misuse

Misusing the minimum wage law could involve an employer paying their workers below the legal minimum, which is unfair and exploitative. It is important to protect against this misuse to prevent employees from being underpaid and deprived of a decent standard of living.

Benefits

Ensuring a minimum wage helps to protect workers from being paid unreasonably low wages and promotes a more equitable distribution of wealth. It provides a baseline level of income for workers to meet their basic needs.

Conclusion

Minimum wage laws play a crucial role in safeguarding workers' rights and preventing exploitation in the workplace. By setting a floor on wages, employees are protected from receiving unreasonably low pay for their work, fostering a more just and fair labor market.