Question

Are "exploited" workers who chose to work long, hard hours for littlepay benefitted by laws that ban working for so little?

Answer 1

Laws that ban working for a little, set minimum wage for the workers. It does not necessarily benefit those exploited workers as mentioned, because firms reduce the jobs and demand less of the workers to compensate for the higher minimum wages now paid to the workers. Though it will benefit those exploited workers who are skilled and are employable in skill based roles. Hence, it is the skills owned by the skilled worker or technical abilities of the worker, that will decide the benefits to that worker due to laws.