A minimum wage was developed by the federal government in all businesses engaged in interstate commerce in 1938 at 25 cents per hour and was to go to 40 cents in 7 years. No worker had to work more than 44 hours per week without getting paid for it (overtime). The second year was 42 hours and after that it was 40 hours per week, before getting overtime. This was amended in 1963 with the equal pay act that there should no difference in pay because of gender for the same work done under the same conditions.