29 U.S.C. § 204
There is created in the Department of Labor a Wage and Hour Division which shall be under the direction of an Administrator, to be known as the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division (in this chapter referred to as the "Administrator"). The Administrator shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The Administrator may, subject to the civil-service laws, appoint such employees as he deems necessary to carry out his functions and duties under this chapter and shall fix their compensation in accordance with chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5. The Administrator may establish and utilize such regional, local, or other agencies, and utilize such voluntary and uncompensated services, as may from time to time be needed. Attorneys appointed under this section may appear for and represent the Administrator in any litigation, but all such litigation shall be subject to the direction and control of the Attorney General. In the appointment, selection, classification, and promotion of officers and employees of the Administrator, no political test or qualification shall be permitted or given consideration, but all such appointments and promotions shall be given and made on the basis of merit and efficiency.
The principal office of the Administrator shall be in the District of Columbia, but he or his duly authorized representative may exercise any or all of his powers in any place.
Whenever the Secretary has reason to believe that in any industry under this chapter the competition of foreign producers in United States markets or in markets abroad, or both, has resulted, or is likely to result, in increased unemployment in the United States, he shall undertake an investigation to gain full information with respect to the matter. If he determines such increased unemployment has in fact resulted, or is in fact likely to result, from such competition, he shall make a full and complete report of his findings and determinations to the President and to the Congress: Provided, That he may also include in such report information on the increased employment resulting from additional exports in any industry under this chapter as he may determine to be pertinent to such report.
The Secretary is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Librarian of Congress with respect to individuals employed in the Library of Congress to provide for the carrying out of the Secretary's functions under this chapter with respect to such individuals. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, or any other law, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management is authorized to administer the provisions of this chapter with respect to any individual employed by the United States (other than an individual employed in the Library of Congress, United States Postal Service, Postal Regulatory Commission, or the Tennessee Valley Authority). Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the right of an employee to bring an action for unpaid minimum wages, or unpaid overtime compensation, and liquidated damages under section 216(b) of this title.
29 U.S.C. § 204
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThe effective date of the Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1974, referred to in subsec. (d)(3), is the effective date of Pub. L. 93-259 which is May 1, 1974, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 29(a) of Pub. L. 93-259 set out as an Effective Date of 1974 Amendment note under section 202 of this title.
CODIFICATIONIn subsec. (a), provisions that prescribed the compensation of the Administrator were omitted to conform to the provisions of the Executive Schedule. See section 5316 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.In subsec. (b), "chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5" substituted for "the Classification Act of 1949, as amended" on authority of Pub. L. 89-554, §7(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 631, the first section of which enacted Title 5.
AMENDMENTS2006-Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109-435 substituted "Postal Regulatory Commission" for "Postal Rate Commission".1995-Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 104-66 in first sentence substituted "biennially" and "preceding two years" for "annually" and "preceding year", respectively. 1974-Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 93-259, §§24(c), 27, inserted provision at end of subsec. (d) requiring the report to Congress to include a summary of the special certificates issued under section 214(b) of this title, designated subsec. (d) provisions as subsec. (d)(1), and required the report to contain an evaluation and appraisal of overtime coverage established by this chapter, respectively.Subsec. (d)(2), (3). Pub. L. 93-259, §27(3), added pars. (2) and (3). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 93-259, §6(b), added subsec. (f). 1961-Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 87-30 added subsec. (e).1955-Subsec. (d). Act Aug. 12, 1955, required an evaluation and appraisal by the Secretary of the minimum wages, together with his recommendations to Congress, to be included in the annual report.1949-Subsec. (b). Act Oct. 28, 1949, substituted "Classification Act of 1949" for "Classification Act of 1923".Subsec. (a). Act Oct. 26, 1949, increased compensation of Administrator to $15,000.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1974 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 93-259 effective May 1, 1974, see section 29(a) of Pub. L. 93-259 set out as a note under section 202 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1961 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 87-30 effective upon expiration of one hundred and twenty days after May 5, 1961, except as otherwise provided, see section 14 of Pub. L. 87-30 set out as a note under section 203 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1949 AMENDMENT Amendment by act Oct. 26, 1949, effective Oct. 26, 1949, see section 16(a) of act Oct. 26, 1949, set out as a note under section 202 of this title.
REPEALSActs Oct. 26, 1949, ch. 736, §4, 63 Stat. 911, and Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, cited as a credit to this section, were repealed (subject to a savings clause) by Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, §8, 80 Stat. 632, 655.
TERMINATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103-7 (in which reports required under paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsec. (d) of this section are listed on page 124), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104-66 set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance.
MINIMUM WAGE STUDY COMMISSION; ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSES, COMPOSITION, ETC.Pub. L. 95-151, §2(e), Nov. 1, 1977, 91 Stat. 1246, provided for the establishment, purposes, composition, etc., of the Minimum Wage Study Commission, the submission of reports, with the latest report being submitted to the President and Congress thirty six months after the date of the appointment of the members of the Commission and such appointments being made within 180 days after Nov. 1, 1977, and the Commission to cease to exist thirty days after submission of the report.
DEFINITION OF "SECRETARY"Act Aug. 12, 1955, ch. 867, §6, 69 Stat. 712, provided that: "The term 'Secretary' as used in this Act and in amendments made by this Act [amending this section and sections 205, 206, 208, and 210 of this title] means the Secretary of Labor."
EXECUTIVE DOCUMENTS
TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONSFunctions relating to enforcement and administration of equal pay provisions vested by subsecs. (d)(1) and (f) in Secretary of Labor and Civil Service Commission transferred to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1978, §1, 43 F.R. 19807, 92 Stat. 3781, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, effective Jan. 1, 1979, as provided by section 1-101 of Ex. Ord. No. 12106, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1053. "Director of the Office of Personnel Management" substituted for "Civil Service Commission" in subsec. (f), pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1978, §102, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3783, set out under section 1101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, which transferred all functions vested by statute in United States Civil Service Commission to Director of the Office of Personnel Management (except as otherwise specified), effective Jan. 1, 1979, as provided by section 1-102 of Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, set out under section 1101 of Title 5.Functions of all other officers of Department of Labor and functions of all agencies and employees of that Department, with exception of functions vested by Administrative Procedure Act (now covered by sections 551 et seq. and 701 et seq. of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees) in hearing examiners employed by Department, transferred to Secretary of Labor, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions by any of those officers, agencies, and employees, by Reorg. Plan No. 6 of 1950, §§1, 2, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.
- Industry
- "Industry" means a trade, business, industry, or other activity, or branch or group thereof, in which individuals are gainfully employed.
- Secretary
- "Secretary" means the Secretary of Labor.