California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 8 - Office of the Director
Subchapter 4 - Labor Compliance Programs
Article 1 - Operation of Labor Compliance Program and Contracts Subject to Labor Compliance Program Jurisdiction
Section 16421 - Composition and Components of Labor Compliance Program

Universal Citation: 8 CA Code of Regs 16421

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) In accordance with Labor Code Section 1771.5(b), a Labor Compliance Program shall include, but not be limited to, the following requirements:

(1) The Call for Bids, Design-Build Request, and the contract or purchase order shall contain appropriate language concerning the requirements of Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code.

(2) A prejob conference shall be conducted before commencement of the work with contractors and subcontractors listed in the bid or who are required to be identified or prequalified in a Design-Build Contract. At the prejob conference applicable federal and state labor law requirements shall be discussed, and copies of suggested reporting forms furnished. A checklist, showing which federal and state labor law requirements were discussed, shall be kept for each conference. A checklist in the format of Appendix A presumptively meets this requirement.

(3) A requirement that certified payroll records be kept by the contractor in accordance with Labor Code Section 1776 and furnished to the Labor Compliance Program at times designated in the contract, which shall be at least monthly, or within 10 days of any request by the Awarding Body. Use of the current version of DIR's "Public Works Payroll Reporting Form" (A-1-131) and Statement of Employer Payments (PW26) constitute presumptive compliance with the requirement for certified payroll records kept in accordance with Labor Code Section 1776, provided the forms are filled out accurately and completely. These suggested forms are available from the Department of Industrial Relations.

(4) A program for orderly review of payroll records and, if necessary, for audits to verify compliance with the requirements of Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code.

(5) A prescribed routine for withholding penalties, forfeitures, and underpayment of wages for violations of the requirements of Chapter 1 of Part 7 of Division 2 of the Labor Code.

(6) All contracts to which prevailing wage requirements apply shall include a provision that contract payments shall not be made when payroll records are delinquent or inadequate.

(b) To the extent otherwise authorized by law, an Awarding Body or a Joint Powers Authority consisting of two or more Awarding Bodies may contract with a third party to initiate and enforce all or part of its Labor Compliance Program, provided that the third party has been approved by the Director to operate a Labor Compliance Program in accordance with these regulations. However, this subpart (b) shall not be construed as limiting an Awarding Body's or Joint Powers Authority's authority to contract for services for the operation of its own approved Labor Compliance Program, including services by persons licensed or certified by the State of California to practice one of the following recognized professions: law, architecture, engineering, or accounting.

(d) Nothing in this section or these regulations shall be construed as limiting the responsibility and authority of an Awarding Body to take cognizance of prevailing wage violations under Section 1726 of the Labor Code and take any appropriate action pursuant to and in accordance with that responsibility and authority.

(e) It is the responsibility of a Labor Compliance Program to enforce prevailing wage requirements, consistent with the policy of the state as expressed in Labor Code Section 90.5(a). A Labor Compliance Program shall take reasonable, vigorous, and prompt action to (1) determine whether violations exist, and (2) enforce compliance, including through imposition of appropriate penalties and formal enforcement action, when violations are found. A Labor Compliance Program shall neither avoid use of its enforcement authority based on cost considerations nor shall it use that authority in an unreasonable manner to gain leverage over a contractor or subcontractor. Unreasonable use of enforcement authority includes, but is not necessarily limited to, prolonged or excessive withholdings of contract payments without making a determination that a violation has occurred.

(f) The failure of an Awarding Body or Labor Compliance Program to comply with any requirement imposed by this subchapter shall not of itself constitute a defense to the failure to pay prevailing wages or to comply with any other obligation imposed by Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720), Part 7, Division 2 of the Labor Code.

1. New group 4 (sections 16209-16209.6) filed 3-24-72 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 72, No. 13).
2. Certificate of Compliance filed 6-2-72 (Register 72, No. 23).
3. Repealer of group 4 (article 1, sections 16209-16209.6) filed 12-15-82 by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11349.7(j) (Register 82, No. 51).
4. Amendment of article heading and renumbering of former section 16430 and Appendix A to new section 16421, including amendment of section heading, section and Appendix, filed 10-19-2004; operative 11-18-2004 (Register 2004, No. 43).
5. Amendment of subsections (a)(3), (b) and (c), new subsections (e)-(f) and amendment of Appendix A and NOTE filed 12-22-2008; operative 1-21-2009 (Register 2008, No. 52).
6. Editorial correction restoring HISTORY 1 through HISTORY 3 and renumbering HISTORIES (Register 2010, No. 27). For prior history of Subchapter 4, see Register 82, No. 51 and Register 92, No. 13.
7. Amendment of subchapter 4 heading, repealer and reservation of subsection (c) and amendment of NOTE filed 6-29-2010; operative 8-1-2010 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b) (Register 2010, No. 27).

Note: Authority cited: Section 1773.5, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 90.5, 1726, 1771.5(b), 1771.55 and 1776, Labor Code.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.