[NOTE: According to news reports, on Friday Donald Trump said he favors a delay and/or small business carve out to the new U.S. Department of Labor overtime rule, which is scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2016.]

“The new overtime rule that is scheduled to take effect on December 1 would finally end the days when people who work long hours for poverty wages are not required to receive overtime pay. By updating wage and hour protections that have been allowed to erode for decades, the new rule will make a tremendous difference for millions of working women. It is a badly needed economic lifeline that would improve economic security for those who need it most. According to the Economic Policy Institute, it will benefit 12.5 million workers, 6.4 million of whom are women.

Right now in our country, hourly workers and salaried workers making less than $23,660 per year — which is below the poverty line for a family of four — qualify for overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours per week. It has been three decades since the regulations that govern overtime pay in our country have been updated in a meaningful way. This new rule is long overdue. It will help end blatant worker exploitation and help restore basic fairness to our nation’s workplaces. It is a historic advance for fair pay. It must not be diminished or delayed.”