Labor Compliance /
PLA Program

The Port’s Labor Compliance Program provides education and is available to assist contractors with matters related to prevailing wage requirements on the Port’s public works projects. Labor Compliance staff can be reached by calling (562) 283-7200 or emailing laborcompliance@polb.com.

All workers employed on public workers projects must be paid the prevailing wage determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, and if federal, the Department of Labor, according to the type of work and location of the project. 

Federal and State prevailing wage laws exist to ensure that workers engaged in public works projects are paid in accordance to the type of work and location. Prevailing wages promote a level playing field by ensuring that all contractors are paying correct rates to workers and are following the same rules.

All workers performing covered craft work on public works projects are entitled to the payment of prevailing wages.

The State of California’s DIR determines the state’s prevailing wage rates. The rates are generally revised twice each year. The rates can be accessed at https://www.dir.ca.gov/OPRL/DPreWageDetermination.htm. Federal rates are published intermittently by the Federal DOL. These rates can be found here: https://sam.gov/content/wage-determinations.

Note: When projects are subject to both federal and state prevailing wage requirements, contractors must adhere to the more stringent set of requirements, including the payment of the highest prevailing wage rate.

Under the Labor Code, a public works project in general refers to: 

• Construction, alteration, demolition, installation, maintenance, or repair work, 
• Done under contract, and 
• Paid for in whole or in part out of public funds. 

Public works can include pre-construction and post-construction activities related to a project.

Prevailing wages must be paid to all workers employed on public works projects when a project is more than $1,000, or if federally funded, more than $2,000.

A public works contractor is anyone who bids on or enters into a contract to perform work that requires the payment of prevailing wages. It includes subcontractors who have entered into a contract with another contractor to perform a portion of the work on a public works project. It includes sole proprietors and brokers who are responsible for performing work on a public works project, even if they do not have workers or will not use their own workers to perform the work. It includes consultants and subconsultants who perform work covered by prevailing wage, including field surveyors, field soils and material testers and building/construction inspectors.

Anyone who fits within the definition of public works contractor is required to register with the DIR in order to bid on or work on a Port of Long Beach public works project. 

Currently, the registration cost is $400 and covers one state fiscal year, July 1–June 30. Failure to register will result in a $2,000 penalty. To register, please visit: https://www.dir.ca.gov/Public-Works/Contractor-Registration.html.

The proper classification depends upon the scope of work being performed.

Prevailing wage requirements for contractors/subcontractors who bid on and are awarded a Port of Long Beach public works project include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Register as a Public Works contractor with the DIR. 
• Must have required labor posters, including the applicable prevailing wage determinations, posted on the job site. 
• Pay prevailing wages to workers. 
• Comply with apprenticeship standards. 
• Pay the corresponding “training fund contribution” for each apprenticeable craft/trade. 
• Submit weekly certified payroll reports and required labor compliance documents to the Port (in the format required by contract), and weekly electronic certified payroll reports to the DIR.

California law requires that contractors working on public works projects valued at $30,000 or more must employ apprentices from a state approved program and utilized in the correct ratio to the number of journeymen present (1 apprentice hour for every 5 journeyman hours per craft, totaled at the end of the project). With few exceptions this requirement applies to all contractors and subcontractors on a project, even if their part of the project is valued at less than $30,000. Contractor apprenticeship requirements include, but are not limited to: 

• Submit contract award information for each craft required on the project using the DAS 140 Form. 
• Make training fund contributions in the amount established in the prevailing wage rate. 
• Contact the applicable apprenticeship committee to request apprentices for each craft or trade on the project using the DAS 142 Form. The form must be submitted at least three business days before apprentices are required. 
• Employ apprentices in the correct ratio. 

For additional information, please visit: https://www.dir.ca.gov/das/publicworksfaq.html#:~:text=Generally%20this%20means%20that%20the,to%20the%20California%20Apprenticeship%20Council.

Certified Payroll Reports provide a true and accurate record of the labor hours worked on a project. They are signed under penalty of perjury and are due weekly from the prime contractor and all subcontractors. CPRs must show the worker’s full name, address, social security number, work classification, straight time and overtime hours worked each day, the actual per diem wages paid and the payroll check number issued. 

Prime contractors are responsible for ensuring that all their subcontractors submit the required payroll documents. The Prime Contractor and all subcontractors must submit weekly certified payroll reports to the Port’s Labor Compliance Program in the format required by contract. 

If your contract requires CPRs to be submitted electronically via eComply Solutions, please visit: https://prod.ecomply.us.