Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Copeland "Anti-kickback" Act
TITLE 18, U.S.C.
Sec. 874. Kickbacks from public works employees
Whoever, by force, intimidation, or threat of procuring dismissal from employment, or by any other manner whatsoever induces any person employed in the construction, prosecution, completion or repair of any public building, public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part by loans or grants from the United States, to give up any part of the compensation to which he is entitled under his contract of employment, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
[18 U.S.C. 874 (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, Sec. 1, 62 Stat. 740 and 862, eff. Sept. 1, 1948) replaced the former sec. 1 of the Copeland Act of June 13, 1934 (48 Stat. 948). Prior to 1948, Section 1 of the Copeland Act was codified as 40 U.S.C. 276b. P.L 103-322, (Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.]
TITLE 40, U.S.C.
Sec. 3145. Regulations governing contractors and subcontractors
(a) In General.—The Secretary of Labor shall prescribe reasonable regulations for contractors and subcontractors engaged in constructing, carrying out, completing, or repairing public buildings, public works, or buildings or works that at least partly are financed by a loan or grant from the Federal Government. The regulations shall include a provision that each contractor and subcontractor each week must furnish a statement on the wages paid each employee during the prior week.
(b) Application.—Section 1001 of title 18 applies to the statements.
[Section 2 of the original Act of June 13, 1934, as amended prior to 2002, and codified as 40 U.S.C. 276c , was repealed, revised and codified as 40 U.S.C. 3145 by P.L. 107-217 (Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1152, 1304,1309, 1313, 1315).]
See also: Reorganization Plan No. 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176, 64 Stat. 1267, 5 U.S.C. 133z note)
Deduction request letters may now be submitted electronically. Simply scan a copy of the signed request and email your request to dbadeductions@dol.gov. The email address may also be used to request the status of current deduction requests as well as to ask technical assistance questions regarding Copeland Act deductions.