US Department of Labor awards $86M to 14 states for investment in skills training programs for critical in-demand, emerging industries

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US Department of Labor awards $86M to 14 states for investment in skills training programs for critical in-demand, emerging industries WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $86 million in Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grants to 14 states to accelerate innovation, strengthen domestic production, and address critical workforce needs across the country, with more than $20 million of the funding supporting the revitalization of the domestic shipbuilding industry, training workers in welding, marine electrical, manufacturing, and other skilled trades.Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, these grants will provide outcome-based reimbursements to employers for providing training in high-demand and emerging industries that align with President Trump’s Executive Order 14278, Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future, and Executive Order 14629, Restoring America’s Mariti...
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US Department of Labor recovers $429K in wages, benefits for 12 employees underpaid by contractors on federally funded projects in New Jersey

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US Department of Labor recovers $429K in wages, benefits for 12 employees underpaid by contractors on federally funded projects in New Jersey
NEW JERSEY – An administrative law judge has ordered three New Jersey-based contractors to pay $429,846 in back wages and fringe benefits to 12 workers employed on multiple federal construction projects, after an investigation and litigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.The department’s Wage and Hour Division found that Above All, Inc., formerly headquartered in Pequannock, violated the Davis-Bacon Act while working on new construction and renovation projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Lyons and East Orange. Elizabeth-based prime contractors Regiment Construction Corp. and Seawolf Construction Corp. subcontracted Above All to perform carpentry work on a total of three projects. The division found that Above All paid its carpenters less than the required prevailing wage – which ranged from $59.08 to $68.23 per hour, depending on the project and timeframe – on multiple projects. Instead, investigators discovered that Above All paid workers an average of $32 per hour.Following the investigation and litigation, the department’s Office of Administrative Law Judges issued a decision and order finding Above All in violation of the Davis-Bacon Act for paying workers less than the required prevailing wage. In addition, the judge found Above All intentionally falsified records to hide underpayments. The decision and order found that, in addition to Above All, prime contractors Regiment and Seawolf are also liable for full payment of back wages and fringe benefits owed to workers on their respective projects as a result of Above All’s Davis-Bacon Act violations. “Employers who fail to pay required prevailing wages and fringe benefits cause financial harm to workers on government-funded projects,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Paula Ruffin in Mountainside, New Jersey. “This decision and order should make clear that the U.S. Department of Labor will pursue all necessary legal actions to ensure that employers are held accountable when they violate federal prevailing wage laws,” said Regional Solicitor of Labor Jeffrey S. Rogoff in New York. Above All Inc., Regiment Construction Corp. and Seawolf Construction Corp. have filed petitions for review of the decision with the department’s Administrative Review Board.Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division and the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Workers and employers can call the division toll-free at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) with questions or requests for compliance assistance.Download the agency’s free Timesheet App for iOS and Android devices to ensure hours and pay are accurate.

Published at September 22, 2025 at 05:00AM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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