Labor laws are rulings about the legal rights and restrictions of workers and employers. These laws have been designed to promote and develop the welfare of working people, to improve their working conditions and to enhance their opportunities for profitable employment.

History

President William Taft signed the documentation which created the Department of Labor in 1913. Federal labor laws were implemented through this department. Governments on the federal and state levels apply these laws within their jurisdictions.

Purpose

Labor laws equalize the power between employers and employees. These laws address issues such as strengthening free collective bargaining for unions and for administering the workplace.

Trade Unions

Trade unions are a collection of employees who form an organization in order to negotiate with employers. Labor laws make unions a possibility and employees who form unions won't have to fear being fired for trying to improve their working conditions.

Specialized Professions

Some professions such as mining and construction have special labor laws in place due to the nature of their work. One such law is the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 that has a provision for coal miners to receive a monthly payment and medical treatment when they can no longer remain employed due to Black Lung Disease.

Employment Regulations

Other laws for labor deal with the federal minimum wage law, the amount of hours that a typical employee is supposed to work, and safety standards in the workplace. There are many other areas of employment that these laws cover.

Source:

U.S. Department of Labor: A Brief History: The U.S. Department of Labor

Cornell University Law: Labor Law--An Overview

U.S. Department of Labor: Health Benefits, Retirement Standards, and Workers' Compensation: Black Lung Compensation