Wage Orders

Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders: What Are Wage Orders?

Wage orders explain the rules about a variety of employment related issues. The most common topics in wage orders deal with minimum wage, overtime, breaks, working conditions, etc. Wage orders are employment laws that employers must follow. A wage order, first developed by the Industrial Welfare Commission but currently regulated by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), outlines employment requirements relating to minimum wage, overtime, reporting-time pay, meal and rest periods, and more. California has 17 different wage orders categorized by industry or occupation and will contain information specific to the industry or occupation it covers. The 2021 minimum wage order and all current industry wage orders are listed on the Department of Relations: The Department of Industrial Relations, Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders Website:  https://www.dir.ca.gov/iwc/wageorderindustries.htm