Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act
Encyclopedia
The Walsh-Healey Act or Walsh–Healey Public Contracts Act, passed in 1936 as part of the New Deal
, is a United States federal law that applies to U.S. government contracts exceeding $10,000 for the manufacture or furnishing of goods. Walsh-Healey establishes overtime
pay for hours worked by contractor employees in excess of 8 hours per day
or 40 hours per week, and sets the minimum wage
equal to the prevailing wage
as determined by the Secretary of Labor. The Act prohibits employment of females under age 18, and males under age 16. The Act sets standards for the use of convict labor, and job health and safety standards.
The Act was named for its Congressional sponsors, both Massachusetts Democrats, Senator David I. Walsh
and Representative Arthur Healey
.
The Act was based on Executive Order 6246, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
on August 10, 1933, which required government contractors to comply with codes of fair competition issued under the National Industrial Recovery Act
(NIRA), which became moot when the Supreme Court struck down the NIRA in Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
(1935).
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
, is a United States federal law that applies to U.S. government contracts exceeding $10,000 for the manufacture or furnishing of goods. Walsh-Healey establishes overtime
Overtime
Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. Normal hours may be determined in several ways:*by custom ,*by practices of a given trade or profession,*by legislation,...
pay for hours worked by contractor employees in excess of 8 hours per day
Eight-hour day
The eight-hour day movement or 40-hour week movement, also known as the short-time movement, had its origins in the Industrial Revolution in Britain, where industrial production in large factories transformed working life and imposed long hours and poor working conditions. With working conditions...
or 40 hours per week, and sets the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
equal to the prevailing wage
Prevailing wage
In government contracting, a prevailing wage is defined as the hourly wage, usual benefits and overtime, paid to the majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics within a particular area. Prevailing wages are established by regulatory agencies for each trade and occupation employed in the...
as determined by the Secretary of Labor. The Act prohibits employment of females under age 18, and males under age 16. The Act sets standards for the use of convict labor, and job health and safety standards.
The Act was named for its Congressional sponsors, both Massachusetts Democrats, Senator David I. Walsh
David I. Walsh
David Ignatius Walsh was a United States politician from Massachusetts. As a member of the Democratic Party, he served in the state legislature and then as Lieutenant Governor and then as the 46th Governor . His first term in the U.S...
and Representative Arthur Healey
Arthur Daniel Healey
Arthur Daniel Healey was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1933 to 1942 and then served as a United States federal judge until his death....
.
The Act was based on Executive Order 6246, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
on August 10, 1933, which required government contractors to comply with codes of fair competition issued under the National Industrial Recovery Act
National Industrial Recovery Act
The National Industrial Recovery Act , officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 The National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), officially known as the Act of June 16, 1933 (Ch. 90, 48 Stat. 195, formerly...
(NIRA), which became moot when the Supreme Court struck down the NIRA in Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States
A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, 295 U.S. 495 , was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that invalidated regulations of the poultry industry according to the nondelegation doctrine and as an invalid use of Congress's power under the commerce clause...
(1935).
External links
- Federal Labor Laws, a list from Congressional DigestCongressional digestCongressional Digest, published by Congressional Digest Corporation, is an independent monthly publication with offices in Washington, DC. Congressional Digest was founded in 1921 by suffragette Alice Gram Robinson with the goal of presenting, in her words, “an impartial view of controversial...
. - The Department in the New Deal and World War II at the US Department of Labor.
- Text of the Act, 41 USC 35 et seq., at the Cornell Law School Legal Information InstituteLegal Information InstituteThe Legal Information Institute is a non-profit, public service of Cornell Law School that provides no-cost access to current American and international legal research sources online at . The organization is a pioneer in the delivery of legal information online. Founded in 1992 by Peter Martin and...
. - Compliance Assistance - Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division.