Back in January, the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) announced that the agency’s Labor Enforcement Task Force would increase monitoring of employers to make sure they are providing workers’ compensation and following the rules like safety requirements, trained workforce requirements, and apprenticeship standards.

According to Construction Dive, the task force will also focus on making sure employees at public works job sites are paid the prevailing wage determined by the DIR.

Back in 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsome signed a bill which appropriated $30 million for these efforts.

"The funds are to be used for the Department of Industrial Relations' strategic enforcement focused on construction, alteration and repair projects, as subject to provisions of Section 1785 of the Labor Code," said Jeanne-Mairie Duval, spokeswoman at the DIR, according to Construction Dive.

"Construction contractors working on publicly funded work sites will experience no negative impact, as long as they are complying with the requirements," Duval added.

In addition to the rule that employees at prime contractors and subcontractors working on public works projects be paid the prevailing wage, projects worth $30,000 or more must also meet apprenticeship requirements set by the DIR.