Comptroller Lander: 1500+ Workers Entitled to Over $4 Million in Prevailing Wages

New York, NY – New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced that nearly 1,600 workers have outstanding funds to claim, totaling over $4 million from prevailing wage settlements with companies that worked on City-funded projects across the five boroughs. The Office of the Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law is attempting to find workers who are owed wages from these settlements.

“Thanks to the dedicated investigative work of our Bureau of Labor Law, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for workers cheated out of prevailing wages on City projects. Over a thousand workers who built this city have yet to collect their hard-earned wages, and we hope they’ll come forward to claim what they’re owed,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.

“If you did the work, you deserve your proper wages. If you believe you are owed back wages from a City-funded job, we urge you to check our list, reach out, and get what you’ve earned,” said Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights.

Prevailing wage laws require employers to pay workers a wage and benefit rate set annually by the New York City Comptroller when those employees work on City funded projects including construction, security, custodial, and temporary office work. In addition, certain properties receiving tax benefits from the state are required to pay their building service employees the prevailing wage. The Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law enforces prevailing wage laws to ensure workers receive the wages they are due.

Because of recent and past settlements, approximately 1,600 workers are owed a total of $4.27 million that has not yet been collected. The unpaid wages owed to workers who have not claimed their settlements range from a few hundred dollars to more than $86,000.

For a complete list of the workers entitled to unclaimed prevailing wages, please click here.

Workers who were employed on City-funded worksites — like public schools, subway stations, City streets, and parks — and believe that our office has collected unpaid prevailing wages from their employers should call the Comptroller’s hotline at (212) 669-4443, send inquiries via email to laborlaw@comptroller.nyc.gov, or check the Comptroller’s unclaimed wages mobile-friendly website.

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