So im working for a company at a state project job site in the city of Ontario CA. My coworkers are receiving $55/hr and I’m only getting paid $20/hr is that fair?
1 reply
Aug 18, 2020
California state law requires that, on public works projects, pay to workers must equal:
“the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for work of a similar character in the locality in which the public work is performed, and not less than the general prevailing rate.”
So, the prevailing wage must be paid to workers on a public project, and any significant discrepancy between wages would need to be because of some difference in the specific work performed by the parties.
If there is no difference between the work done by workers on a public project subject to the prevailing wage requirements, there should not be a significant difference in the pay rate received.
There can be significant penalties associated with failure to comply with prevailing wage requirements, including employees receiving back pay to meet the requirements. More information about prevailing wage requirements in California can be found straight from the source here.