The U.S. Department of Labor investigated several cotton gin employers for not meeting standards set forth by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The investigation recovered $282,626 in back wages and $10,785 in liquidated damages for 620 workers.

“The department’s Wage and Hour Division identified violations in 81% of the 71 cotton gin investigations completed between November 2019 and March 2021 in the Southeast, home to some of the largest cotton producers in the nation,” a release said.

The labor act ensured the minimum wage in the United States is to be $7.25.

The cotton gin exponentially increased the speed of crop production.

The cotton gin was invented more than three centuries ago.

Eight out of 10 cotton gin employers were found to have violated the Fair Labor Standards Act in the Southeast.

“Our investigations show that far too many cotton gin operators are not compliant with federal labor law,” Juan Coria, Wage and Hour Division regional administrator, said in a release. “The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division maintains a dogged commitment to ensure that cotton gin workers receive all of their hard earned wages as well as the worker protections they are due. We encourage employers and stakeholders in the ginning industry to review their policy and practices and contact us to request compliance assistance.”

The Fair Labor Standards Act is what establishes minimum wages, overtime pay, record keeping, as well as youth employment standards.