Final answer:
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) primarily covers a broad range of employees, setting minimum wage, overtime pay standards, and limiting child labor. It includes various sectors and does not restrict coverage based on age or student status.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fair Labor Standards Act Employee Coverage The primary group of employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) encompasses a wide range of workers in various sectors. The FLSA establishes critical labor standards, including setting minimum hourly wages, limiting child labor, and instituting rules for overtime pay for those employees in jobs that are paid by the hour and work in excess of 40 hours per week. Although there are exceptions, most full-time and part-time workers in the private sector, as well as in federal, state, and local governments, are covered under the FLSA. This includes but is not limited to construction workers, salespeople, and white-collar workers not specifically exempted.
Notably, the FLSA does not impose age restrictions such as being between the ages of 20 and 50, nor does it exclude high school and college students from its protections.Historically, the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935 and later the FLSA in 1938 were significant strides toward improving labor practices. Minimum-wage workers and their representatives have continued to fight for fair wages and better working conditions, as seen in the 2015 nationwide strike mentioned in the given reference. The FLSA's provisions have played a vital role in protecting workers and setting important labor standards that contribute to fair and safe workplace practices.