Which government entity oversees wage and hour laws?

The Department of Labor (DOL) is the government entity that oversees wage and hour laws in the United States. This includes the administration of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which establishes minimum wage, overtime pay eligibility, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards for both public and private sector employees. The DOL's mission includes ensuring fair labor practices and responding to wage complaints, making it the authoritative body on matters concerning employee wages and working hours.

In contrast to the DOL, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) primarily focuses on tax collection and enforcement of tax laws, rather than on wage and hour regulations. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is concerned with enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination and does not directly handle wage and hour issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is focused on workplace safety and health regulations, which is a different aspect of employment law. Therefore, the DOL is the appropriate entity for overseeing wage and hour laws.