An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that Harold E. Nutter & Son Inc. failed to pay the prevailing wages required by the Davis-Bacon Act to 58 employees working on seven federally funded construction projects, six in California and one in Washington. The electrical contractor also failed to meet the terms and conditions of the apprenticeship training plan, which required Nutter & Son to enroll apprentices in a health insurance plan. Additionally, the firm improperly charged training program costs to the journeymen working on the projects.

Nutter & Son has been ordered to pay $385,000 to 58 workers to remedy the violations. The contractor also has agreed to comply with all applicable labor standards in any future contract.

The Davis-Bacon Act requires all contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal and certain federally funded projects to pay their laborers and mechanics the proper prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits as determined by the secretary of labor. On a Davis-Bacon Act project, the prime contractor is responsible for the compliance of subcontractors and lower-tier subcontractors.