Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151, § 1 (2026)

Oppressive and unreasonable wages; validity of contracts

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 1. It is hereby declared to be against public policy for any employer to employ any person in an occupation in this commonwealth at an oppressive and unreasonable wage as defined in section two, and any contract, agreement or understanding for or in relation to such employment shall be null and void. A wage of less than $15.00 per hour, in any occupation, as defined in this chapter, shall conclusively be presumed to be oppressive and unreasonable, wherever the term ''minimum wage'' is used in this chapter, unless the commissioner has expressly approved or shall expressly approve the establishment and payment of a lesser wage under the provisions of sections seven and nine. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, in no case shall the minimum wage rate be less than $.50 higher than the effective federal minimum rate.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 93 cases (35 in the last 5 years), 1959–2026 · leading case: Depianti v. Jan-Pro Franchising Int'l, Inc., 465 Mass. 607 (Mass. 2013).

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Depianti v. Jan-Pro Franchising Int'l, Inc., 465 Mass. 607 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 8× “149, §§ 148, 148B, and 150,] and under [G. L. c. 151, §§ 1 and 1A], “[2.] Whether and how to apply the ‘right to control test’ for vicarious liability to the franchisor-franchisee relationship.”

Mullally v. Waste Mgmt. of Massachusetts, Inc., 452 Mass. 526 (Mass. 2008). · cites it 3× “If, as Waste Management contends, the term “applicable minimum wage” was intended to refer to the basic minimum wage, see G. L. c. 151, § 1; 455 Code Mass. Regs. § 2.”

Monell v. Boston Pads, LLC, 31 N.E.3d 60 (Mass. 2015). · cites it 3× “149], or [G. L. c. 151, § 1, 1A, IB, 2B, 15, or 19], or [G.”

Huston v. FLS Language Centres, 18 F. Supp. 3d 17 (D. Mass. 2014). · cites it 3× “149, § 18 , and violations of the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Statute, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151, § 1 . Plaintiff originally brought this action in Suffolk Superior Court.”

Schwann v. Fedex Ground Package Sys., Inc., 813 F.3d 429 (1st Cir. 2016). “§ 100, and a minimum wage, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151, § 1 . The employer must also track and record hours worked and amounts paid.”

Chambers v. RDI Logistics, Inc., 65 N.E.3d 1 (Mass. 2016). “As a result, motor carriers are compelled to adopt a different manner of providing services from what they otherwise might choose because prong two dictates the type of worker that will provide the *103 services. This likely also would have a significant, if indirect, impact on…”

Capron v. Massachusetts Attorney Gen., 944 F.3d 9 (1st Cir. 2019). “Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151, § 1 . A different section of the Massachusetts Fair Wage Law requires that "employer[s]" pay "employee[s]" at a rate of time-and-a-half for all hours that the "employee[s]" work in a week beyond 40 hours.”

Massachusetts Delivery Ass'n v. Coakley, 671 F.3d 33 (1st Cir. 2012). “, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151, §§ 1 , 1A. Chapter 152 is entitled “Workers' Compensation” and addresses that subject.”

Sebago v. Boston Cab Dispatch, Inc., 28 N.E.3d 1139 (Mass. 2015). “149, § 148 (Wage Act); G. L. c. 151, §§ 1, 7 (minimum wage law); G.”

Skirchak v. Dynamics Rsch. Corp., 508 F.3d 49 (1st Cir. 2007). “, and the Massachusetts Minimum Fair Wage Law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151, § 1 et seq. The company moved to compel arbitration under its newly adopted Dispute Resolution Program (“Program”) which contains language waiving class actions.”

Carey v. GateHouse Media Massachusetts I, Inc., 94 N.E.3d 420 (Mass. App. Ct. 2018). “149, §§ 148 and 150 ; failed to pay him a minimum wage, in violation of G. L. c. 151, § 1 ; and violated his rights under the tip-sharing statute, G.”

Rueli v. Baystate Health, Inc., 835 F.3d 53 (1st Cir. 2016). “The court properly entered judgment on the pleadings and dismissed plaintiffs’ claims.”

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