By Carole Carlson
February 18, 2019
The U.S. Department of Labor ordered four contractors, who built the $9.5 million Village of Hope federal housing project in Gary, to pay workers $255,474 for failing to pay prevailing wages and fringe benefits.
The labor department announced the ruling last week.
The wage law violations impacted 53 former and current employees, according to a release from the labor department.
“Government contractors receive detailed agreements that include prevailing wage and fringe benefits rates, required to be paid by all contractors working on a federally funded project.
Prime contractors must assure that their subcontractors adhere to these rules as well,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Patricia Lewis, in Indianapolis.The project’s prime contractor TWG Construction LLC, based in Indianapolis – has paid $82,477 to 20 employees.
TWG Construction LLC sub-contracted with a temporary staffing company, which failed to pay cleaning service crews in accordance with federal law.
The labor department’s investigation found temporary employees were misclassified and not paid the required prevailing wage rates.
Also, 8 Aces Construction Inc., Lansing, Ill., has paid $69,022 to 19 employees. Investigators found the company failed to pay finishers, painters and carpenters prevailing wage rate. The employer also failed to pay required fringe benefits to employees.
Due to the repeat and “willful nature” of these violations, the labor department said 8 Aces Construction Inc. and owner Jose “Tony” Ochoa have been declared ineligible to bid on federal contracts for a period of three years. A 2017 investigation found 8 Aces owed back wages totaling $99,313 to 95 employees.