A joint investigation by the New York City comptroller’s office and the Parks Department found that two companies, Green Builders Group of NY Corp. and Amin Electrical Corp., failed to pay 24 workers prevailing wages, forged their signatures on affidavits, and required workers to pay kickbacks.
Both companies and the prime contractor of the project, D & S Restoration, have agreed to pay over $600,000 in back pay and civil penalties. The two contracting companies have been debarred, which means that no city agency can hire or subcontract them.
Prevailing wage requires contractors on publicly funded construction projects to pay workers hourly rates and benefits set and enforced by the city comptroller. Many workers on public projects are unaware that they are entitled to higher pay under prevailing wage standards, making them more vulnerable to wage theft and exploitation.
Additionally, Amin Electrical and Green Builders submitted falsified records and affidavits allegedly signed by employees stating that they had been paid prevailing wages. Workers confirmed they did not sign those affidavits and were paid daily rates far below the required minimum.
For instance, one Green Builders Workers employee stated he was paid $225 per day while working on the playground renovation. The comptroller’s office said he was supposed to be earning $84.63 an hour before overtime. This would have amounted to several hundreds of dollars more per day than the fixed amount he received.
Prevailing wage laws are designed to ensure that workers on publicly funded projects receive the wages and benefits to which they are legally entitled. When employers fail to comply with these requirements, whether by underpaying workers, denying overtime, or misrepresenting payroll practices, they may be in violation of federal, state, and local labor laws.
If you believe you have not been paid the prevailing wage or have questions about your rights under wage and hour laws, contact the prevailing wage attorneys of Pechman Law Group at 212-583-9500.
