State of New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development
03/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/27/2024 09:02
NJDOL Issues Stop-Work Orders to 4 Contractors at Jersey City Apartment Complex
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2024
TRENTON - Investigators from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance issued stop-work orders to four subcontractors to halt work at The Wave, a residential apartment complex being built in Jersey City.
Stop-work orders were issued on Feb. 28 to second tier subcontractors L&S Drywall Experts Corp. of Plainfield, Betancourt Drywall LLC of New Brunswick, and A-Class Construction Corp. of Newark. The fourth order, issued to first tier subcontractor Valex Enterprises of Marlboro, was lifted following a successful appeal.
Violations at the worksite, at 30 Park Lane North, included: improper classification of construction workers; failure to properly classify employees; failure to provide records; failure to pay overtime; failure to pay minimum wage; unpaid wages/late payment; and violations pertaining to record keeping and Earned Sick Leave notifications.
"Workers and law-abiding businesses deserve every benefit and protection afforded to them in the state of New Jersey," said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. "We expect all employers to follow the law and treat their workers with the respect and dignity they deserve."
Roughly 262 workers have been identified thus far as being affected by these violations.
Stop-work orders were issued at this same worksite in April 2023 to subcontractors Concrete Rising LLC of Eatontown and Signatura Laboris of Englewood.
Stop-work orders are initiated by NJDOL to halt work being performed in a manner that exploits workers or is otherwise noncompliant with state laws and regulations. If an employer appeals a stop-work order, NJDOL has seven days to schedule a hearing.
NJDOL continues to monitor locations where stop-work orders have been issued, and can assess civil penalties of $5,000 per day against an employer conducting business in violation of the order. The stop-work order may be lifted when any remaining back wages and penalties have been paid and all related issues have been resolved.
NJDOL has issued 158 stop-work orders since these powers were expanded by the Governor and Legislature in July 2019.
For more information on worker benefits and protections, please visit myworkrights.nj.gov.