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Court orders California construction contractor to pay $770K in back wages, damages after federal investigation finds minimum wage, overtime violations

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Court orders California construction contractor to pay $770K in back wages, damages after federal investigation finds minimum wage, overtime violations ESCONDIDO, CA – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment requiring an Escondido drywall construction contractor to pay $790,000 in back wages, damages, and penalties after a federal investigation found the employer failed to pay the federally required minimum wage and overtime to 580 workers.The court action follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division into Innovative Wall Systems Inc. – operating as Alta Drywall. Federal investigators found that the employer did not accurately keep records of hours worked, including pre- and post-shift work, travel between jobsites, or work performed on Saturdays. The employer also neglected to pay workers the required overtime rate of time-and-one-half for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek, resulting in Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wag...
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US Department of Labor announces $98M in available funding to deliver education, occupational skills training, job services to young people

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US Department of Labor announces $98M in available funding to deliver education, occupational skills training, job services to young people WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of $98 million in funding to support the development of pre-apprenticeships in high-demand industries including construction, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare.“By investing $98 million through our YouthBuild Program, the Labor Department is opening up pathways to success for young Americans by providing them with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in construction and emerging fields,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “The Trump Administration remains committed to building a skilled workforce that will drive our economy into the future.”Funded through the department’s YouthBuild Program, the grants will help provide academic support, occupational skills training and employment services to young people, ages 16 to 24, ...
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US Department of Labor, Harvey Construction Corp. align to promote safety, health during construction of Mark Stebbins Community Center

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US Department of Labor, Harvey Construction Corp. align to promote safety, health during construction of Mark Stebbins Community Center MANCHESTER, NH – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed a strategic partnership with Harvey Construction Corp. to promote worker safety and health during construction of the Mark Stebbins Community Center.The partnership with the Bedford-based commercial construction company seeks to prevent worker injuries and exposure to hazards by developing a contractor-government approach to safety and health. The initiative will also assist contractors in developing and implementing safety and health management systems and providing training to employees, employers and supervisors. Participants will focus on identifying and preventing common hazards on large-scale construction projects, such as falls and being struck by or caught in materials or equipment.The Mark Stebbins Community Center project co...
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US Department of Labor announces availability of resources to assist contractors with Davis-Bacon Act payroll reporting requirements

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US Department of Labor announces availability of resources to assist contractors with Davis-Bacon Act payroll reporting requirements WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced the availability of two important updates designed to improve compliance and reporting for contractors required to submit weekly payrolls under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.The updates for Form WH-347, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Weekly Certified Payroll Form, are intended to streamline and clarify the reporting process for contractors and subcontractors using the form to report their weekly payroll. The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts require contractors and subcontractors to pay workers prevailing wages on government-funded or assisted construction contracts.The new resources include an online, fillable version of Form WH-347 that provides contractors and subcontractors with an efficient way to submit accurate weekly payroll records and will help reduce co...
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Secretary Chavez-DeRemer statement on November jobs report

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Secretary Chavez-DeRemer statement on November jobs report WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued the following statement regarding the November 2025 Employment Situation Report:“November’s jobs report shows our economy continues to gain momentum despite the economic mess President Trump inherited from the Biden administration and the reckless Democrat shutdown. With 64,000 jobs added in November, more and more Americans are coming off the sidelines and working in the private sector. Investment has been booming thanks to the President’s America First policies, leading to strong nonresidential construction growth. “Importantly, the growth we are seeing is concentrated in the private sector and among native-born Americans. Federal employment has retreated to the lowest level in over a decade, completely reversing the previous administration’s federal hiring frenzy.“The Trump Administration remains laser-focused on making life more affordable for all Ame...
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US Department of Labor cites Connecticut earthwork contractor for continued violations after follow-up inspection, proposes $1.2M fine

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US Department of Labor cites Connecticut earthwork contractor for continued violations after follow-up inspection, proposes $1.2M fine BRIDGEPORT, CT – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has again cited an Easton concrete and earthwork contractor for willfully failing to protect workers from cave-in and excavation hazards and proposed more than $1.2 million in fines after a follow-up inspection uncovered numerous willful violations. In December 2023, OSHA officials responded to a workplace fatality at a New Canaan worksite that claimed the life of a Sound Construction Inc. worker. As a result of that investigation, OSHA cited the employer for two willful and five serious violations and entered into a settlement agreement requiring the owner to submit monthly lists of active worksites and allow OSHA to randomly inspect them to determine trenching and excavation safety standard compliance. On June 12, 2025, OSHA initiated an inspection ...
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US Department of Labor issues 7 letters of interpretation addressing workplace safety, health requirements

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US Department of Labor issues 7 letters of interpretation addressing workplace safety, health requirements WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today that it has issued seven letters of interpretation to ensure the consistent and transparent application of federal workplace safety and health standards.As part of the Trump Administration’s broader emphasis on compliance assistance, OSHA’s letters of interpretation provide official explanations of the agency’s requirements and how they apply to specific workplace situations and hazardous conditions posed by employers, employees, or other parties.“From construction to engineering, OSHA is providing decisive guidance after gathering feedback from employers, demonstrating our opinion letter program has already been effective,” said Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling. “This effort is a key component of the Trump Administration’s comprehensive strategy to educate the public ...
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Federal investigation into fatality at Georgia-based engineering company finds employer exposed workers to chemical, asphyxiation hazards

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Federal investigation into fatality at Georgia-based engineering company finds employer exposed workers to chemical, asphyxiation hazards ATLANTA – U.S. Department of Labor safety investigators have determined that an engineering and construction company exposed workers to safety hazards after an investigation into a worker fatality at the Hanwa Q Cells Georgia Inc. plant in White, Georgia.OSHA issued Hyoungwon E&C America Inc. a citation with a serious violation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause for failing to protect employees against asphyxiation hazards related to nitrogen gas and another serious violation for not providing effective information and training on hazards related to nitrogen gas and oxygen-deficient atmospheres. The employer faces $20,522 in proposed penalties.The company has 15 business days from receipt of their citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA, or contest the finding...
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