The idea presented that minimum wage was originally established as pay for young workers and "that it was never intended to be the salary for an experienced worker raising a family" (Jan. 25 letter) is a myth.
The minimum wage was established by an act of Congress in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. In addition to establishing the minimum wage, the FLSA adopted an eight-hour workday, a 40-hour work week, and required that workers be paid time-and-a-half for overtime. The FLSA also mandated that children under 18 cannot do certain dangerous jobs, and children under the age of 16 cannot work during school hours.
One reason why the myth that minimum wage is for the young (and poor) hangs on is because this country has done a poor job of raising the minimum wage to reflect its intent - to establish a minimum standard of living. All workers deserve that.