July 27, 2017
Since taking office, Governor Walker has prioritized strengthening the rights of working Alaskans. At his direction, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development has stepped up enforcement of workplace safety and health laws, wage and hour protections, and efforts to combat worker misclassification. At noon on Thursday, July 27th Governor Walker will sign the Responsible Contracting Administrative Order, which will embed safety, health and labor rights compliance in the State’s contracting processes. Please join Governor Walker, Labor Commissioner Heidi Drygas, and labor and business stakeholders for the signing ceremony and a luncheon to celebrate this momentous progress in ensuring state contracts are awarded to responsible businesses.
Responsible Contracting Administrative Order
- The Responsible Contracting Administrative Order requires the Department of Administration to work with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to develop regulations that ensure state contracts are awarded to businesses that comply with state and federal labor laws, including:
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- Alaska Occupational Safety and Health Administration laws
- Alaska Wage and Hour Act
- Alaska Workers’ Compensation Act
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Davis-Bacon and Little Davis-Bacon Acts
- Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act
- National Labor Relations Act
- Employment Security Tax Laws
- The Department of Administration will also consider regulations to address debarment and suspension of contractors who have serious violations of workplace safety and labor laws
Benefits of the Responsible Contracting Administrative Order
- State contracting processes will promote safe workplaces and respect workers’ labor rights
- The State’s financial interests will be further protected by ensuring responsible businesses are used for state contracts
- Improvements to workplace safety will facilitate long-term reductions in workers’ compensation insurance costs, as research shows labor rights abuses are associated with higher rates of workplace injury