Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Antonio's Drywall and Plaster, Inc., located in Mililani, has paid $300,000 in back wages to 36 employees after an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.

"This Administration is committed to ensuring every worker is adequately paid for all hours worked," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "As a result of this investigation, the Labor Department has secured $300,000 in back wages for these workers."

An investigation determined that Antonio's Drywall and Plaster failed to pay the correct prevailing wage rates as required by the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA). The company worked as a subcontractor on seven U.S. Department of the Navy and U.S. Department of the Army contracts on the island of Oahu.

In addition, the firm did not keep an accurate record of all hours worked, including hours worked over 40 in a workweek. As a result, employees were not being paid at time-and-one-half their regular rate of pay as required by the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA).

The Davis Bacon Act requires that every federal contract in excess of $2000 contain a clause setting fourth the minimum prevailing wages to be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics employed under the contract. Under the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, employees working on federal contracts must receive time-and-one-half their regular rate of pay when they work more than 40 hours in a workweek.

"The Department of Labor is dedicated to ensuring that workers are paid the correct wages for all hours worked," said Tammy D. McCutchen, Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. "Most employers comply with the law, but we will vigorously enforce the law if an employer avoids paying workers the wages they have earned."

For more information about the Davis Bacon Act and the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, call the Honolulu Wage and Hour office at (808) 541-1361 or the Department of Labor's toll-free helpline at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

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