In fiscal year 2023, the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division secured over $35.5 million in back wages for nearly 18,000 construction employees — more funds than from any other U.S. industry. Wage theft can come in many forms, such as not paying overtime, not paying union or pension dues or misclassifying full-time employees as independent subcontractors, who therefore are denied benefits. The reason wage theft is so pervasive in construction, experts say, is because it tilts the business playing field — albeit illegally — in favor of those companies that engage in it. When it comes to prevention, both Rosenberg and Nesse noted that involving labor representatives — unions — can make a big difference. According to Nesse, merely having a third party working to ensure employees get their due can prevent the issue.
https://www.constructiondive.com/news/wage-theft-construction-contracts-unions-labor/725028/