Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

21 June 1989

Last action

17 November 1989 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 101-157.

Summary

Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (the Act) to increase the minimum wage per hour from $3.35 in 1989 to: (1) $3.80 in FY 1990; and (2) $4.25 in FY 1991 and thereafter. Provides for annual adjustments of the minimum wage. Directs the Minimum Wage Review Board (established by this Act), by January 1, 1991, to review current economic data on wages, prices, and other economic indicators and determine how the minimum wage rate should be adjusted. Directs the Board, by October 1, 1991, to transmit to the Congress a recommendation to adjust the rate, including an estimate of the economic effects of doing so. Directs the Board to conduct such reviews and transmit such recommendations annually. Establishes the Minimum Wage Review Board, composed of five members appointed by certain congressional officers. Increases the small business exemption by revising the definition of an enterprise engaged in commerce for purposes of coverage under the Act ("the enterprise test"). Exempts from such coverage those businesses whose annual gross volume of sales or business is less than $500,000 (currently $362,500), effective October 1, 1989. Requires employers who were covered in 1988, but who are exempt under the new threshold, to continue to pay the $3.35 per hour minimum wage (and continue to be covered by overtime and child labor provisions of the Act). Removes the Virgin Islands from coverage by provisions for special industry committee minimum wage determinations and orders, including those involving employment under special certificates for learners, apprentices, and messengers and for students. Adds references to American Samoa under such provisions (American Samoa is currently covered by such provisions through references under other special minimum wage provisions). Removes references to Puerto Rico under such provisions, but continues and revises the special minimum wage treatment of Puerto Rico as follows: (1) in addition to designated types of employees (Federal, hotel, motel, restaurant, and food service) entitled to receive the full Federal minimum wage, employees in industries averaging $4.65 or more per hour would be so entitled; (2) employees in industries averaging from $4.00 to $4.64 per hour would receive the full rate by October 1, 1993, after a four-year period of gradual increases; (3) employees in industries averaging less than $4.00 per hour would receive the full rate by October 1, 1994, after a five-year period of gradual increases; and (4) employees of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a municipality or other governmental entity of the Commonwealth, in categories averaging less than $4.00 per hour and covered by 1985 amendments to the Act, would receive the full rate by October 1, 1995, after a six-year period of gradual increases. Increases the tip credit under the Act from 40 percent to 45 percent for FY 1990 and to 50 percent for FY 1991 and thereafter. (The tip credit deems the amount paid to a tipped employee, for minimum wage purposes, to be increased by an amount determined by the employer, but not by an amount in excess of the specified percentage of the applicable minimum wage rate.) Allows employers to pay a training wage at less than the minimum wage rate. Allows such training wage to be paid only: (1) until the employee has been employed a cumulative total of 60 days by all employers who are required to withhold payroll taxes for such employee; and (2) while such eligible employee is engaged in on-the-job training which is at least 30 days in duration. Prohibits payment of such training wage to migrant or seasonal agricultural workers or nonimmigrant aliens. Makes the individual responsible for providing proof of previous periods of employment with other employers. Allows such training wage to be paid only during the period from October 1, 1989, to September 30, 1991. Sets such training wage at: (1) not less than $3.35 per hour during the year beginning October 1, 1989; and (2) beginning October 1, 1990, not less than $3.35 per hour or 85 percent of the minimum wage, whichever is greater. Prohibits layoffs or termination of employment or reduction of the number of regular employees because of the training wage. Prohibits employee hours at the training wage during any month from exceeding one-fourth of all employee hours in the establishment. Sets forth notice requirements and enforcement provisions. Directs the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) to report to the Congress by July 1, 1992, on the effectiveness of the training wage. Exempts from overtime provisions of the Act up to ten hours in any workweek if during such time the employee is receiving certain remedial education. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the rights and protections of the Act should apply to employees of the Senate or any office thereof. Directs the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, within 180 days after the first minimum wage increase under this Act, to report a resolution which applies such rights and protection to Senate employees and establishes the scope of such coverage and remedies, enforcement, and other necessary procedures. Applies the rights and protections under the Act to any employee: (1) in an employment position in, and any employing authority of, the House of Representatives, using remedies and procedures under the Fair Employment Practices Resolution; or (2) employed under the Architect of the Capitol. Adds civil penalties for repeated or willful violations of specified provisions of the Act. Directs the Secretary, within 90 days, to promulgate regulations that interpret a specified professional exemption from overtime provisions under the Act to include computer systems analysts, software engineers, and other similarly skilled professional workers, even if such employees are compensated on an hourly basis, as long as they are compensated at an hourly rate at least six and one-half times greater than the minimum. Directs the Minimum Wage Review Board to contract with the Secretary to provide for the Bureau of Labor Statistics to conduct: (1) a study of the impact of increasing the Federal minimum wage on rural areas and high unemployment areas; and (2) specified surveys and research on the characteristics of minimum wage employment and the impact of modification of the scope of coverage and minimum wage levels under the Act. Directs the Board to submit to specified congressional committees the results of such studies and surveys, which are to be completed by specified deadlines.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

21 June 1989
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Source: IntroReferral
21 June 1989
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
21 June 1989
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
12 July 1989
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Labor Standards.
Source: Committee
14 September 1989
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
14 September 1989
Committee
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Source: Committee
19 September 1989
Committee
Unfavorable Executive Comment Received from Labor.
Source: Committee
19 September 1989
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
19 September 1989
Reported
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Source: Committee
26 September 1989
Introduced
Referred sequentially to the House Committee on House Administration for a period ending not later than Sept. 27, 1989 for consideration of such provisions of section 8 of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor as fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on House Administration pursuant to clause 1(k), Rule X.
Source: IntroReferral
26 September 1989
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 101-260, Part I.
Source: Committee
26 September 1989
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 101-260, Part I.
Source: Committee
27 September 1989
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 167.
Source: Calendars
27 September 1989
Discharge
Committee on House Administration discharged.
Source: Discharge
27 September 1989
Committee
Committee on House Administration discharged.
Source: Committee
31 October 1989
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 278 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2710 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendments now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider an amendment in the nature of a substitute, consisting of the text printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 382 - 37 (Roll No. 324).
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Passed
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Floor
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2710.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Floor
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2710 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. In lieu of the amendments now printed in the bill, it shall be in order to consider an amendment in the nature of a substitute, consisting of the text printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Vote
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 382 - 37 (Roll No. 324).
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Floor
The Speaker designated the Honorable Al Swift to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Floor
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 278 and Rule XXIII.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 278.
Source: Floor
1 November 1989
Passed
Rule H. Res. 278 passed House.
Source: Floor
2 November 1989
Introduced
Received in the Senate.
Source: IntroReferral
3 November 1989
Introduced
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 351.
Source: Calendars
6 November 1989
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
7 November 1989
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
8 November 1989
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 89-8. Record Vote No: 292.
Source: Floor
8 November 1989
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
9 November 1989
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
9 November 1989
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
9 November 1989
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
17 November 1989
Became law
Became Public Law No: 101-157.
Source: President
17 November 1989
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
17 November 1989
President
Signed by President.
Source: President

Votes

8 November 1989 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill H.R. 2710 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 89 · No 8 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 3

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Engrossed in House · — · Download file
Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
Introduced in House · — · Download file
Placed on Calendar Senate · — · Download file
Public Print · — · Download file
Reported in House · — · Download file

Documents

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Reported in House (text)

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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN
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Public Print (text)
Public Print · EN
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Placed on Calendar Senate (text)
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Introduced in House (text)
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Enrolled Bill (text)
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 18 November 1989
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 1 November 1989
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Reported to House amended, Part I
summary · EN · 26 September 1989
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 21 June 1989
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Legal framework · Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989 · H.R. 2710 (101st) · US

Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 101-hr-2710 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989

Sources

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Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/house-bill/2710
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/101/hr/2710
us · 101-hr-2710 · source updated 21 July 2025