U.S.DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OFFICEOFTHE SECRETARY WASHINGTON SEP 13 1974 MEMORANDUM NO. 118 TO: ALL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF REORGANIZATION PLAN NO, 14 OF 1950 BY THE CONTRACTING AGENCIES The continued increase in the number of serious complaints received by the Department of Labor from workers who are not receiving the wages to which they are entitled while working on construction jobs subject to the Davis-Bacon Act and related statutes prompts me to address this memorandum to the heads of all agencies with wham the Department of Labor shares responsi- bility for the effective enforcement of those labor standards laws. In Arch 1950, the President sent to the Congress Reorganization Plan No. 14, making it unquestionably clear that the principal objective of the Plan was "more effective enforcement of labor standards." That is still the objective toward which all of us must direct our efforts. Both the message and the Plan itself vest in the Secretary of Labor the responsibility for pre- scribing appropriate standards, regulations and procedures to be observed by the contracting agencies. The concern of the Congress for the maintenance of labor stand- ards on behalf of construction workers has been consistently manifested by its inclusion of Plan No. 14 authority in legis- lation since 1950 providing Federal assistance programs for construction activity. Because Plan No. 14 does not relieve the respective agencies awarding the contracts or providing the Federal assistance from their responsibilities for enforcement of labor standards, including the investigation of complaints of violations, I am taking this occasion to point out that the de-emphasis of 2. Davis-Bacon enforcement which has occurred in many agencies is not consistent with the uniform policy of vigorous enforcement by all Federal agencies which this Department espouses and for which its regulations provide guidelines. Accordingly, all agencies are urged to reexamine their policies and procedures in this area and to utilize the guidelines pro- vided in the attached Investigation and Enforcement Manual, with a view to a full and complete implementation of the Plan. I must remind you that now, as in 1950, we cannot ignore or sacrifice the statutory rights of working people which are entrusted to our protection. Every agency must rise to the challenge. Better communication with contractors during the pre-construction conferences, careful and regular checks of certified payrolls by trained professional staff, and routine on-the-job checks, especially during the initial phase of construction, will go a long way at relatively reasonable cost toward achieving a strong and productive compliance effort. I am looking forward to a new era of meaningful enforcement activities on the part of every contracting agency. Your con- tinuing cooperation is appreciated. Secretary of Labor Attachments (2) Reorganization Plan No. 14 Investigation and Enforcement Manual REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 14 OF 1950 Eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3176, 64 Stat. 1267. Prepared by the President and transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled, March 13, 1950, pursuant to the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949, ap- proved June 20, 1949 [see section 901 et seq. of this title]. LABOR STANDARDS ENFORCEMENT In order to assure coordination of administration and consistency of enforcement of the labor standards provisions of each of the fol- lowing Acts by the Federal agencies responsible for the administra- tion thereof, the Secretary of Labor shall prescribe appropriate standards, regulations, and procedures, which shall be observed by these agencies, and cause to be made by the Department of Labor such investigations, with respect to compliance with and enforce- ment of such labor standards, as he deems desirable, namely: (a) The Act of March 3, 1931 (46 Stat 1494, ch. 411), as amended [sec- tions 276a.to 276a-6 of Title 40]; (e) the Act of June 13, 1934 (48 Stat. 948, ch. 482) [section 276c of Title 40]; (c).the Act of August 1, 1892 (27 Stat. 340, ch. 352), as amended [sections 321-323 of Title 40]; (d) the Act of June 19, 1912 (37 Stat. 137, ch. 174), as amended [sections 324 and 325 of Title 40]; (e) the Act of June 3, 1939 (53 Stat. 804, ch. 175), as amended [sections 1703, 1708-1711, 1713, 1715c, 1716 of Title 12]; (f) the Act of August 13, 1946 (60 Stat. 1040, ch. 958) [sections 291-291m of Title 42]; (g) the Act of May 13, 1946 (60 Stat. 170, ch. 251), as amended [sections 1101-1119 of Title 49); and (h) the Act of July 15, 1949 (ch. 338, Public Law 171, Eighty-first Congress, first session [sections 1416, 1451-1460 of Title 42]). MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT To the Congress of the United States: I transmit herewith Reorganization Plan No. 14 of 1950, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949. For the purpose of coordinating the administration of labor stand- ards under various statutes relating to Federal construction and pub- lic works or to construction with federally financed assistance or guaranties, the reorganization plan authorizes the Secretary of Labor to prescribe appropriate standards, regulations, and proce- dures with respect to these matters and to make such investigations concerning compliance with, and enforcement of, labor standards as he deems desirable. The purpose is to assure consistent and effec- tive enforcement of such standards. The plan is in general accord with the recommendations of the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Gov- ernment. It constitutes a further step in rebuilding arid strengthen- ing the Department of Labor to make it the central agency of the Government for dealing with labor problems. After investigation I have found and hereby declare that the re- organization contained in this plan is necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes set forth in section 2(a) of the Reorganization Act of 1949. There are several laws regulating wages and hours of workers em- ployed on Federal contracts for public works or construction. The "eight hour laws" limit the employment of laborers and mechanics on such projects to 8 hours per day and permit their employment in excess of that limit only upon condition that time and one-half the basic-wage rate is paid for the excess hours. The Davis-Bacon Act provides that the minimum rates of pay for laborers and mechanics on certain Federal public-works contracts shall be those prevailing for the corresponding classes of workers in the locality as deter- mined by the Secretary of Labor. The Copeland anti-kick-back law prohibits the exaction of rebates or kick-backs from workers em- ployed on the construction of Federal public works or works financed by the Federal Government and authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make regulations for contractors engaged on such projects. In addition to the above statutes, there are several acts which re- quire the payment of prevailing-wage rates, as determined by the Secretary of. Labor, to laborers and mechanics employed on con- struction financed in whole or in part by loans or grants from the Federal Government or by mortgages guaranteed by the Federal Gov- ernment. These acts are: the National Housing Act, the Housing Act of 1949, the Federal Airport Act, and the Hospital Survey and Construction Act of 1946. With the exception of the Department of Labor, the Federal agen- cies involved in the administration of the various acts are divided into two classes: (1) agencies which contract for Federal public works or construction; and (2) agencies which lend or grant Federal funds, or act as guarantors of mortgages, to aid in the construction of projects to be built by State or local public agencies or private individuals and groups. The methods of enforcing labor standards necessarily differ between these two groups of agencies. The methods adopted by the various agencies for the enforcement of labor standards vary widely in character and effectiveness. As a result, uniformity of enforcement is lacking and the degree of pro- tection afforded workers varies from agency to agency. In order to correct this situation, this plan authorizes the Secre- tary of Labor to coordinate the administration of legislation relating to wages and hours on federally financed or assisted projects by prescribing standards, regulations, and procedures to govern the en- forcement activities of the various Federal agencies and by making such investigations as he deems desirable to assure consistent en- forcement. The actual performance of enforcement activities, nor- mally including the investigation of complaints of violations, will remain the duty of the respective agencies awarding the contracts or providing the Federal assistance. Since the principal objective of the plan is more effective enforce- ment of labor standards, it is not probable that it will result in savings. But it will provide more uniform and more adequate pro- tection for workers through the expenditures made for the enforce- ment of the existing legislation. HARRY S. TRUMAN THE WHITE HOUSE, March 13, 1950.