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The Division of Labor Standards is responsible for the enforcement of the Child Labor Act, the Wage Regulations Act, and the Prevailing Wage Act.
The Wage Regulations Act ensures an employee's right to wages legally owed. Inspectors investigate complaints of an employer's failure to pay an agreed salary and aid the employee in recovering wages owed. This Act also protects employees from sex discrimination in relation to wages. The Division of Labor Standards also oversees the Board of Employee Assistance Professionals. The Division of Labor Standards can answer questions on:
- Prevailing Wage Law (state-funded highway projects).
- Employee Assistance Professionals Board.
- Wage Regulations Act, payday regulations, non-payment of wages.
- Equal pay, meal periods.
- Child Labor Act.
- Jury Duty Law.
- Designation of beneficiary to receive wages or salary in the event of death of employee.
State Child Labor Laws: With some exemptions, minors must be at least 14 years of age to be employed in the state of Tennessee. Tennessee law prohibits minors from working in some occupations and limits working hours for persons under the age of 18.
Included in the Child Labor and the Wage Regulations Acts are provisions for a 30 minute unpaid break or meal period. This provision is mandatory for minors.
The state does not issue work permits, but the minor has to provide a copy of his or her birth certificate.
Tennessee child labor rules can be found at Title 50, Chapter 5 of the Tennessee Code.
State Minimum Wage: Tennessee does not have a state minimum wage law.
State Prevailing Wage: $50,000 is set as the threshold amount for contract coverage under the state prevailing wage law. Under the Prevailing Wage Act, the wages for state-funded construction projects are set. The Division of Labor Standards conducts a survey of wages paid to building and highway construction workers in Tennessee and the Prevailing Wage Commission sets a wage rate for the different job classifications in the construction industry.
Prevailing wage rules can be found at Title 12, Chapter 4, Part 4 of the Tennessee Code.
Contact information
- Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Division of Labor Standards
220 French Landing Drive
Nashville, TN 37243-0655
Phone: 615-741-6642
Website: www.tn.gov/workforce/