Missouri Public Works Projects
JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Labor Department’s Division of Labor Standards released the prevailing wage rates to be used on public works construction projects in Missouri for 2011.
Annual Wage Order No. 18 contains prevailing wage rates for the 26 different occupational titles in each county and the city of St. Louis. The prevailing wage is the minimum rate that must be paid to workers on public works construction projects in Missouri. Missouri law defines public works as “all fixed works constructed for public use or benefit or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds”.
The Labor Department’s Division of Labor Standards is responsible for gathering wage information from public and private commercial construction projects statewide on an ongoing basis from contractors, labor organizations and public entities. The largest number of hours reported at a given wage rate for the occupational title in the county becomes the prevailing wage rate. The Division has already begun collecting wage information for Annual Wage Order No. 19 and will continue to collect information throughout the year.
Each year on or before March 10, the Division files the Annual Wage Order with the Secretary of State with a 30 day objection period. If there are no objections, the prevailing wage rates established by the Division will become final on April 12, 2011. If objections are filed, the rates will not be final until all objections are resolved by the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission.
From July 2009 to July 2010, the Division received 436 prevailing wage complaints and found 125 violations. Contractors that do not pay the required prevailing wage rates to their workers are subject to fines of $100 per day per unpaid worker. Cases in which the Division determines contractors have willfully violated the prevailing wage law are referred to the local prosecuting attorney who may then file criminal charges against the contractor for up to $500 per violation, six months in jail or both. In addition, when contractors are convicted or have pled guilty to violating the prevailing wage law, the Division will file notice with the Secretary of State to debar the contractor from working on any public works project
To view Annual Wage Order No. 18 or for additional information visit www.labor.mo.gov/DLS/PrevailingWage/ .
Employees on public works projects not receiving prevailing wage rates should file a complaint by filling out the complaint form by calling 573- 751-3403.
