WHAT'S NEW?    

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) recently updated their website. After a few technical glitches, most of the new site is functional. Here is the latest update they have provided.

Recent updates to the public works website services include:

(1) Manual eCPR- crafts and classifications updates:

• electrician, glazier, painter, sheet metal worker, carpenter, plasterer, roofer, tile finisher, and more are now added.

(2) eCPR Employee Notes section updates:

The Employee Notes section, which was previously limited to 49 characters, now allows up to 500 characters.

• This field should be used to itemize additional deductions or contributions that are not available in other eCPR fields, and to address manual calculations needed to adjust the total gross wages (for example, for garnishments or 401k contributions).

The eCPR proof of submission report 

• can be exported and printed from the dashboard to verify the date of submission for the general contractors or awarding body.
• submission for the general contractors or awarding body.

In June, DIR launched modernized Public Works website services, including a new unified platform to replace the PWC-100, PWCR, and eCPR applications.

There were technical issues encountered with the initial launch regarding associating accounts that impeded some registration or renewal attempts in the new system. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate the timely information provided by system users regarding the system errors, which helped us identify and resolve them. We appreciate your continued patience as we make improvements to the new system.

Many users are now learning the new system and can find the answers to their questions in the online support center which has recorded trainings, user guides, FAQs and other resources. 

Please refer to the online support center before contacting the Public Works Unit. 

 If you need further assistance after consulting the support center, email Publicworks@dir.ca.gov. 

UPCOMING SEMINARS AND SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES

Upcoming Training:

September 11 CSDA Annual Conference Deborah will be speaking about creating a prevailing wage checklist www.csda.net to register

October 3-5 ACCA Training - Seattle, WA Jessica Finau will be speaking on Creating a Prevailing Wage Checklist for Davis Bacon Projects https://www.accaweb.org

October 14 Humboldt Builders Exchange - All day in person prevailing wage training. https://www.humbx.com

Save the Date LCPtracker Ignite Conference May 19-22 Long Beach

If you need more training, Deborah Wilder is the presenter on the LCPtracker Academy Prevailing wage workshops. Go to www.LCPtracker.com and select the education tab.

Want to schedule your own prevailing wage workshop?

We will customize a workshop or webinar for you and your Agency/Account. Contact us at: info@ccmilcp.com 

ANSWER: 

Every state I know of, as well as the federal government, makes prime contractors 100% liable for wages due to ALL workers on the project. That includes workers of subcontractors and sub-tier contractors. Usually the Agency will go after the offending subcontractor first, but if the business is closed or refuses to pay the wages, the prime contractor becomes automatically liable. Here a few tips to try and manage this liability.

• Cover prevailing wage obligations in the bid you solicit, in your contract and go over these one more time at the preconstruction conference
• Have your subcontractor acknowledge in writing as to the prevailing wage obligations required on the project
• Collect and review Certified Payroll (CPRs). You can either do this in house or hire an outside consultant
• Always investigate claims or conversations overheard on the jobsite when a worker is complaining they are not getting paid correctly
• If a problem is identified, then hold some or all of a progress payment 
• NEVER release a final retention until all other labor compliance documents have been submitted and checked



Some states (CA) have a formal process referred to as Safe Harbor where there is a 4 step process with the  final step in the process is getting an End of the Project Affidavit signed by the subcontractor that all wages have been paid correctly. This process protects prime contractors from penalties but not from wages due.