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Minimum Wage Law

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The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Minimum Wage Law
The federal minimum wage law was introduced in the year 1938. The US was in grave economic jeopardy, on account of the Great Depression, which lasted from 1929 to the early 1940’s. The enactment of the federal minimum wage law provided an appreciable measure of relief to employees, who were now assured of at least 25cents an hour with a 44 hour weekly work ceiling. This act clearly stated that the wages paid to an employee were to be adequate to ensure a standard of living that was essential for general well – being, efficiency and health. However, such minimum wages were not to bring about any appreciable reduction in employment.
From the period, there have been several debates over the advantages and disadvantages of a minimum wage. The detractors of the minimum wage have rightly pointed out that it tends to reduce jobs. This has been countered by the proponents of the minimum wage who contend that it enhances the purchasing power of the consumer and also increases productivity.
The purchasing of the federal minimum wage had risen to its highest in the year 1968, when the minimum wage for an hour’s work could purchase 5 gallons of gasoline. This underwent a gradual but consistent decline, and by the year 2006 the minimum hourly wage could barely procure 2 gallons of gasoline. The minimum wage is not uniform across the states, and some of the states have mandated much higher minimum wages. For example, Washington obliges employers to pay $8.55 per hour.
A major issue relates to the fact the minimum wage, in real dollar terms; fell by 22%, in the period 1973 to 2007. During this time the profits of the corporate sector increased by more than 50%, which significantly increased the gap between the rich and poor.
In the year 2007, it was envisaged that the proposed federal minimum wage increase would

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