There is no single definition or definitive list of workers’ rights. The International Labor Organization (ILO) identifies what it calls “fundamental principles and rights at work” that all ILO Members have an obligation to respect and promote, which are:

• freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

• elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor;

• effective abolition of child labor; and

• elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

The ILO has adopted—and supervises the application of—international labor conventions in each of these areas. Other important ILO standards deal with conditions of work, including occupational safety and health, wages, and hours of work, but these standards are not considered fundamental or core conventions.

United States trade law adds acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health to that list, calling them “internationally recognized labor rights.”

In the United States, federal law provides minimum standards or rights for workers regarding occupational safety and health, wages, family and medical leave, and hours of work. And many states have laws that protect workers as well. When state laws provide workers with greater protections than the applicable federal law the state law is not preempted or superseded by the federal law and workers are entitled to those greater rights and protections.

In Wyoming, workers' rights are governed by a combination of federal law and state statutes. Federally, workers are protected under laws such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets minimum wage and overtime pay standards, and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which entitles eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. Additionally, federal law recognizes the right to collective bargaining, prohibits forced labor, child labor, and discrimination in employment. While Wyoming adheres to these federal standards, it may also have state-specific regulations that offer additional protections. For instance, Wyoming has its own Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Wyoming OSHA) that operates under a state plan approved by the federal OSHA. If Wyoming state laws provide greater protections than federal laws, workers in Wyoming are entitled to these greater protections. However, it's important to note that Wyoming is not among the states with its own minimum wage law; thus, it defaults to the federal minimum wage. Workers in Wyoming who believe their rights have been violated can seek recourse through state or federal agencies, and they may also benefit from consulting with an attorney to understand the full scope of their rights and remedies under both state and federal law.