The Department of Industrial Relations reminds Public Works contractors and subcontractors to submit certified payroll records (CPRs) using DIR’s online system. The Labor Commissioner will resume enforcement of this requirement today, August 1, 2016.
Under the Labor Code, Public Works in general refers to the construction, alteration, demolition, installation, maintenance, or repair work, done under contract, and paid for in whole or in part out of public funds It can include preconstruction and post-construction activities related to a Public Works project
All workers employed on Public Works projects must be paid the prevailing wage determined by the Director of the DIR according to the type of work and location of the project. The prevailing wage rates are usually, but not always, based on rates specified in collective bargaining agreements.
A Public Works contractor is anyone who bids on or enters into a contract to perform work that requires the payment of prevailing wages. It includes subcontractors who have entered into a contract with another contractor to perform a portion of the work on a Public Works project. It includes sole proprietors and brokers who are responsible for performing work on a Public Works project, even if they do not have employees or will not use their own employees to perform the work.
All contractors and subcontractors working on Public Works projects must submit electronic certified payroll records to the Labor Commissioner. The Labor Commissioner has exempted projects monitored by the following legacy Labor Compliance Programs: California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified School District, County of Sacramento and projects covered by a qualifying project labor agreement.
To learn about the enhancements to DIR’s online reporting system, Public Works contractors and subcontractors are invited to consult the updated certified payroll reporting User Guides or watch the new CPR tutorials. Contractors can also find answers to questions about the improvements on DIR’s frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.
The certified payroll record display for data uploaded via XML has been updated to reflect the simplified reporting records. Please note that the requirements and steps for uploading payroll records via XML have not changed. DIR has additional compliance information on its new Public Works pages. The Public Works community is also invited to subscribe to email alerts on public works topics, DIR’s press releases and other departmental updates.
DIR protects and improves the health, safety and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws.
DIR’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), also known as the Labor Commissioner’s Office, enforces prevailing wage rates and apprenticeship standards in public works projects, inspects workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicates wage claims, investigates retaliation complaints, issues licenses and registrations for businesses and educates the public about labor laws.