ORS 279C.855
Liability for violations

(1)

A contractor or subcontractor or contractor’s or subcontractor’s surety that violates the provisions of ORS 279C.840 (Payment of prevailing rate of wage) is liable to the workers affected in the amount of the workers’ unpaid minimum wages, including all fringe benefits, and in an additional amount equal to the unpaid wages as liquidated damages.

(2)

Actions to enforce liability to workers under subsection (1) of this section may be brought as actions on contractors’ bonds as provided for in ORS 279C.610 (Action on contractor’s public works bond or payment bond).

(3)

If a public agency fails to provide in the advertisement for bids, the request for bids, the contract specifications, the accepted bid or elsewhere in the contract documents that the contractor and any subcontractor must comply with ORS 279C.840 (Payment of prevailing rate of wage), the liability of the public agency for unpaid minimum wages, as described in subsection (1) of this section, is joint and several with a contractor or subcontractor that had notice of the requirement to comply with ORS 279C.840 (Payment of prevailing rate of wage).

(4)

If a public works project is subject to the Davis-Bacon Act, 40 U.S.C. 3141 et seq., and a public agency fails to include the state and federal prevailing rates of wage in the specifications for the contract for public works as required under ORS 279C.830 (Provisions concerning prevailing rate of wage in specifications, contracts and subcontracts) (1)(a), or fails to provide in the contract that workers on the public works must be paid not less than the higher of the applicable state or federal prevailing rate of wage as required under ORS 279C.830 (Provisions concerning prevailing rate of wage in specifications, contracts and subcontracts) (1)(d), the public agency is liable to each affected worker for:

(a)

The worker’s unpaid minimum wages, including fringe benefits, in an amount that equals, for each hour worked, the difference between the applicable higher rate of wage and the lower rate of wage; and

(b)

An additional amount, equal to the amount of unpaid minimum wages due under paragraph (a) of this subsection, as liquidated damages.

(5)

The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may enforce the provisions of subsections (3) and (4) of this section by a civil action under ORS 279C.850 (Inspection to determine whether prevailing rate of wage being paid) (4), by a civil action on an assigned wage claim under ORS 652.330 (Powers and duties of commissioner in enforcing wage claims), or by an administrative proceeding on an assigned wage claim under ORS 652.332 (Administrative proceeding for wage claim collection). [2003 c.794 §171; 2007 c.844 §6; 2011 c.265 §3]

Source: Section 279C.855 — Liability for violations, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors279C.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Under former similar statute (ORS 279.356)

Where payment is for full amount of wages due, delay in payment does not violate prevailing wage requirement. North Marion School District #15 v. Acstar Insurance Co., 205 Or App 484, 136 P3d 42 (2006), aff’d 343 Or 305, 169 P3d 1224 (2007)

279C.005
Definitions 279C.010
Applicability 279C.100
Definitions for ORS 279C.100 to 279C.125 279C.105
Contracts for architectural, engineering, photogrammetric mapping, transportation planning or land surveying and related services 279C.107
Public disclosure of contents of proposals for architectural, engineering, photogrammetric mapping, transportation planning or land surveying services 279C.110
Selection procedures for consultants to provide services 279C.115
Direct contracts for services of consultants 279C.120
Selection procedure for related services 279C.125
Architectural, engineering, photogrammetric mapping, transportation planning and land surveying services selection process for local public improvements procured through state agency 279C.300
Policy on competition 279C.305
Least-cost policy for public improvements 279C.306
Administrative enforcement of least-cost policy for public improvements 279C.307
Limitations in procurement of personal services 279C.308
Community benefit contract 279C.310
Limitation on contracting agency constructing public improvement 279C.315
Waiver of damages for unreasonable delay by contracting agency against public policy 279C.320
Contracts for construction other than public improvements 279C.325
Limitation on contracting agency awarding contract to nonresident education service district 279C.330
“Findings” defined 279C.332
Definitions for ORS 279A.065, 279C.307, 279C.335, 279C.337 and 279C.380 279C.335
Competitive bidding requirement 279C.337
Procurement of constructions manager/general contractor services 279C.340
Contract negotiations 279C.345
Specifications for contracts 279C.350
Exemption procedure 279C.355
Evaluation of public improvement projects not contracted by competitive bidding 279C.360
Requirement for public improvement advertisements 279C.365
Requirements for solicitation documents and bids and proposals 279C.370
First-tier subcontractor disclosure 279C.375
Award and execution of contract 279C.380
Performance bond 279C.385
Return or retention of bid security 279C.390
Exemption of contracts from bid security and bonds 279C.395
Rejection of bids 279C.400
Competitive proposals 279C.405
Requests for information, interest or qualifications 279C.410
Receipt of proposals 279C.412
Competitive quotes for intermediate procurements 279C.414
Requirements for competitive quotes 279C.430
Prequalification of bidders 279C.435
Effect of prequalification by Department of Transportation or Oregon Department of Administrative Services 279C.440
Disqualification from consideration for award of contracts 279C.445
Appeal of disqualification 279C.450
Appeal procedure for decision to deny, revoke or revise prequalification 279C.460
Action by or on behalf of adversely affected bidder or proposer 279C.465
Action against successful bidder 279C.470
Compensation for contractor on contract declared void by court 279C.500
“Person” defined 279C.505
Conditions concerning payment, contributions, liens, withholding, drug testing 279C.510
Demolition contracts to require material salvage 279C.515
Conditions concerning payment of claims by public officers, payment to persons furnishing labor or materials and complaints 279C.520
Condition concerning hours of labor 279C.525
Provisions concerning environmental and natural resources laws 279C.527
Inclusion of amount for green energy technology or woody biomass energy technology in public improvement contract 279C.528
State Department of Energy requirements and specifications 279C.530
Condition concerning payment for medical care and providing workers’ compensation 279C.533
Condition concerning employment of apprentices to perform percentage of work hours that workers in apprenticeable occupations perform on public improvements 279C.534
Advisory committee for monitoring implementation of apprenticeship condition in public improvement contracts 279C.535
Condition concerning steel material 279C.537
Condition concerning use of diesel engines in motor vehicles used in performing certain public improvement contracts 279C.540
Maximum hours of labor on public contracts 279C.545
Time limitation on claim for overtime 279C.550
“Retainage” defined 279C.555
Withholding of retainage 279C.560
Form of retainage 279C.565
Limitation on retainage requirements 279C.570
Prompt payment policy 279C.580
Contractor’s relations with subcontractors 279C.585
Authority to substitute undisclosed first-tier subcontractor 279C.590
Complaint process for substitutions of subcontractors 279C.600
Right of action on payment bond or public works bond of contractor or subcontractor 279C.605
Notice of claim 279C.610
Action on contractor’s public works bond or payment bond 279C.615
Preference for labor and material liens 279C.620
Rights of person providing medical care to employees of contractor 279C.625
Joint liability when payment bond not executed 279C.650
“Labor dispute” defined 279C.655
Extension and compensation when work suspended 279C.660
Compensation when contract terminated due to public interest 279C.665
Contractual provisions for compensation when contract terminated due to public interest 279C.670
Application of ORS 279C.650 to 279C.670 279C.800
Definitions for ORS 279C.800 to 279C.870 279C.805
Policy 279C.807
Workforce diversity for public works projects 279C.808
Rules 279C.810
Exemptions 279C.815
Determination of prevailing wage 279C.817
Determination of applicability of prevailing wage rate 279C.820
Advisory committee to assist commissioner 279C.825
Fees 279C.827
Division of public works project 279C.829
Agreement with other state to pay less than prevailing rate of wage 279C.830
Provisions concerning prevailing rate of wage in specifications, contracts and subcontracts 279C.835
Notifying commissioner of public works contract subject to prevailing wage 279C.836
Public works bond 279C.838
Applicability of state and federal rates of wage 279C.840
Payment of prevailing rate of wage 279C.845
Certified statements regarding payment of prevailing rates of wage 279C.850
Inspection to determine whether prevailing rate of wage being paid 279C.855
Liability for violations 279C.860
Ineligibility for public works contracts for failure to pay or post notice of prevailing rates of wage 279C.865
Civil penalties 279C.870
Civil action to enforce payment of prevailing rates of wage 279C.875
Criminal liability for intentional failure to pay prevailing wage
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through early 2024

§ 279C.855’s source at oregon​.gov