1. Any
contractor who has been awarded a contract for a Public Works
Project in excess of $1,000.00, or any subcontractor performing
work on said project, shall be liable for the payment of
prevailing wages under this chapter regardless of whether or not
the prevailing wages were listed in the contract between the
contractor and the awarding authority of the state or political
sub-division, as required by law.
2. Any contractor who has been awarded a contract for a
Public Works Project in excess of $1,000.00, shall be liable
for the payment of prevailing wages under this chapter regardless
of whether or not a subcontractor may be the primary
obligor. The contractor shall ensure that a subcontractor
pays the prevailing wage to his employees and otherwise
complies with the provisions of RI General Laws Chapter
37-13.
3. Before
awarding a contract for a Public Works Project, an awarding
authority shall first determine from the Director of Labor &
Training (DLT) whether the proposed contractor has been debarred
under RI General Law 37-13-16, and shall notify all bidders that
the prevailing wage is required as a condition of the contract.
4. All complaints filed for noncompliance with Chapter
13, Title 37, of the General Laws of RI shall be in writing,
and on forms issued by the DLT. The written complaints
must be filed with the DLT within twenty-four (24) months
of the completion of the project.
5. Any
contractor or subcontractor doing work on a Public Works Project
must pay the prevailing wage for the classification of the work
performed by an apprentice unless such apprentice is registered
under an apprenticeship program sanctioned by the RI DLT
Apprenticeship Council.
6. The Director of the DLT shall notify an awarding
authority of the name of any contractor that has violated any
provision of this chapter.
7. Any proceeding to debar a contractor from bidding on a
Public Works Project under the provisions of RI General Law
Chapter 37-13 may be brought against the principals, officers or
successors in interest of such contractor, where such
principals, officers or successors in interest are responsible
for the violation of this chapter.
8. "No person, contractor, firm, business or
corporation shall by any special contract or arrangement with an
employee or by any other means exempt himself from
coverage under RI General Law Chapter 37-13. For purposes
of this chapter individuals performing any service shall be
deemed to be employees and shall be subject to the provisions of
Chapter 37-13 even though the employee many hold share (s) of
stock in the enterprise. Such presumption of employee
status shall not apply if it is shown that the individual has
been and will continue to be free from control and direction in
connection with the performance of such service under his
contract, and such service is performed either outside the usual
course of business for which the service is performed or is
performed outside of all places of business of the enterprise;
and, said individual is customarily engaged in an independently
established occupation, profession or business of the same
nature as involved in the service performed. The failure
to withhold federal or state income taxes or unemployment
compensation from an employee's wages, or to provide workers
compensation coverage for employees shall not be used for the
purpose of making a determination hereunder. The president
and treasurer of a corporation or any officer or agent having
management of such corporation shall be deemed the employer
hereunder."
9. The DLT will be guided by the General Wage Decisions in
accordance with Section 37-13-8 of the General Laws of RI.
Said General Wage Decisions shall be effective upon filing with
the RI Secretary of State's Office.
10. In order to comply with Section 37-13-13 of the
General Laws of RI, a certified payroll record shall be a weekly
compilation of all wages, taxes, and benefits paid and/or
withheld from employees. Said information shall be
recorded weekly on the form attached hereto and marked as
Exhibit "A".
11. Where the Director of DLT has found a violation and entered
as a decision, the contractor and/or subcontractor shall pay all
wages due, interest and penalties assessed within thirty (30)
days of the date of the decision. The Director of DLT
shall upon application by the faulting contractor and/or
subcontractor, extend the period for payment, providing a
request is made within twenty (20) days of the date of the
decision and a written agreement of repayment is entered into by
the Director of Labor and the contractor and/or the
subcontractor. The repayment agreement shall become void
in the event the contractor and/or subcontractor fail to make
payments as agreed.
12. In
enforcing the provisions of Chapter 13 of Title 37, the Director
of Labor may order an awarding authority to withhold a
percentage of the contract price from a contractor and/or
subcontractor. The amount withheld shall be equal to the
amount of the wage due, interest and penalties to satisfy the
decision.
13. All service
and maintenance contractors with the State of Rhode Island or
political subdivision thereof shall comply with the provisions
of Chapter 13; Title 37 where the contract price exceeds
$1,000.00 and the work includes alterations, installation,
repairs or construction.
14. The
Director of Labor hereby adopts the position of the United
States Department of Labor that all independent contractors
and/or subcontractors shall comply with the provisions of
Chapter 13, Title 37.
Definitions