On May 24th, Congress passed the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, raising the federal minimum wage for the first time in almost a decade. Effective July 24, 2007, the minimum wage will increase from the current $5.15 per hour to $5.85 per hour for all employees subject to the minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The legislation also imposes additional federal minimum wage increases over the next two years. Specifically, the minimum wage will increase to $6.55 per hour on July 24, 2008, and to $7.25 per hour on July 24, 2009.

Please read the complete Mintz Levin Employment, Labor and Benefits Advisory for more information regarding implications and exceptions to this Act.