Effective August 15, contractors performing public work for schools and local governments in New Jersey are required to report certified payroll records via the online NJ Wage Hub portal. This measure is part of the state’s efforts to ensure compliance with prevailing wage laws.
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL) has urged both public works contractors and contracting public bodies to create their online accounts at the NJ Wage Hub well in advance of this date. The DOL noted that summer is typically a busy time for school districts hiring contractors for construction work, and it aims to ensure that both school boards and public contractors adhere to regulations.
Public bodies must be aware of their responsibilities when working with contractors or subcontractors. These responsibilities include:
- Ensuring all contracts for public work contain language advising of the Prevailing Wage Act and the Public Works Contractor Registration Act.
- Confirming that the appropriate prevailing wage determinations are included within the contract between the public body and the general contractor.
- Affirming that weekly certified payrolls are submitted for all work performed subject to the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act (NJPWA).
- Consulting the NJDOL website before awarding a contract to ensure that the contractor and any named subcontractors have completed their Public Works Contractor Registration with NJDOL and are not on the list of ineligible bidders due to debarment or outstanding judgments.
- Creating and maintaining a process for collecting certified payroll records accessible to the public and NJDOL for review.
- In cases where the lowest bid for a contract is at least 10% lower than the next lowest bid, ensuring that, before awarding the contract, the lowest bidder submits written certification that they will pay all workers the prevailing wage rate.
The NJDOL has been actively working with leaders and members of more than a dozen municipal and school organizations to provide information through conferences, in-person meetings, and recorded webinars.
Further information can be found in New Jersey's Local Public Contracts Law and Regulation Reference Guide, updated as of April 2024.
