Economic hardships of minimum wage workers concern many Americans. Federal minimum wage was enacted in 1938 at $0.25 an hour. It covered 40% of the prevailing hourly rate and covered 50% of non-supervisory workers (Department of Labor). Congress, through a series of amendments since 1938, has increased federal minimum wage and finally ended up with the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour in 2009; that amount prevails today but only for covered workers. It does not cover, for example, tipped workers in industries such as leisure and hospitality. READ MORE