Press Release
☷US Department of Labor initiatives promote safety of industry workers wages employer compliance during National Construction Safety Week | U S Department of Labor
U.S. Department of Labor ( By Press Release office)
May 02,2022
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US Department of Labor initiatives promote ‘safety’ of industry workers’ wages , employer compliance during National Construction Safety Week Fueled by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law , construction activity heightens need for compliance WASHINGTON – Hard - working people in the construction industry in the U . S . build our homes , erect our roads and bridges , and raise our buildings skyward . They also strive to expand and strengthen the nation’s information infrastructure to better connect us and make the country more resilient at times of crisis . With many projects supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law gaining speed across the nation as temperatures rise and the ground softens , the U . S . Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division is showing its commitment to ensuring the safety of workers’ wages during the annual celebration of National Construction Safety Week , May 2 - 6 , by announcing new compliance assistance materials , including a toolkit in both English and Spanish languages , specifically to help construction workers understand their rights and inform employers about their legal obligations . In addition , the division has launched a webpage to help construction employees and employers understand Davis - Bacon Act worker protections for projects created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law . “We are depending on construction industry workers to help us realize the promise and benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law . Many work long hours in difficult conditions; and we owe it to them to ensure that their jobs are good jobs and that employers pay them fair wages and benefits , ” explained Acting Wage and Hour Division Administrator Jessica Looman . “During National Construction Safety Week , we recognize that the safety and health of workers includes ensuring economic security for them and their families . ” In fiscal year 2021 , the division identified more than $36 million in back wages owed to about 21 , 000 construction industry workers . In the same period , violations of the Davis - Bacon and Related Acts – wage laws governing federally funded projects – recovered more than $12 million in back wages for more than 4 , 000 workers . In the industry , division investigators commonly find violations related to the misclassification of workers as independent contractors , failing to pay employees work - related travel time and pre - and post - shift work , and not paying overtime as required for hours over 40 in a workweek . On federally funded projects , failing to pay the correct prevailing wage rate , improper calculations of required fringe benefits and not paying for all hours of work and making illegal deductions from wages are common violations . The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects construction industry employment to grow at a rate of 6 percent from 2020 to 2030 , and gain approximately 400 , 000 jobs . Employers who comply with labor laws will be better positioned to recruit and retain skilled workers . “As the number of jobs grows in the coming decade , employers who deny workers their full wages and benefits either intentionally or not , may find it more difficult to attract and keep the people they need to make their businesses successful , ” Looman added . “The Wage and Hour Division is committed to working with state and local agencies , employers and other industry stakeholders to promote compliance and help employers avoid the often - costly consequences of violations . ”Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division . Lea en Español
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