Which legislation established minimum wage and safety standards in 1936?

The Walsh-Healey Act, passed in 1936, aimed to establish minimum wage and safety standards for workers engaged in contracts with the federal government. This legislation was significant in that it required employers to pay prevailing wages and adhere to health and safety regulations, thereby ensuring fair labor practices for workers. At the time, the act reflected a growing concern for the rights and welfare of laborers during an era marked by economic challenges and the need for reform in labor standards.

The Davis-Bacon Act, though also related to wage standards, was enacted in 1931 and specifically applies to federal contracts for construction projects, not a broad establishment of minimum wage and safety standards for all workers. The Social Security Act, enacted in 1935, primarily focused on providing social insurance and welfare benefits rather than directly addressing minimum wage or workplace safety. The Civil Rights Act emerged much later, in 1964, and dealt with ending discrimination rather than labor standards. Thus, the Walsh-Healey Act is correctly identified as the legislation that established minimum wage and safety standards in 1936.