SCA Wage Flyer2009.pdf

This document is an informational notice from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division regarding employee rights on government contracts subject to the Service Contract Act (SCA) or Public Contracts Act (PCA).

The notice outlines mandatory labor standards for contractors performing government work. Key requirements include: minimum wages at or above the Federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act, with potentially higher rates for SCA contracts if a wage determination applies; fringe benefits required for SCA contracts but not PCA contracts; overtime compensation at 1.5 times the basic rate for hours exceeding 40 per week; prohibition of child labor (no employees under 16 on PCA contracts); and safe and sanitary working conditions. The Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act applies to contracts exceeding $10,000 and establishes standards for minimum wage, maximum hours, safety, and health. The Service Contract Act applies to contracts with a principal purpose of furnishing services and requires compliance with prevailing wage and fringe benefit standards. Specific enforcement responsibilities are assigned to the Wage and Hour Division for wage and hour standards and to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for safety and health requirements. Contractors are liable for violations committed by covered secondary contractors. Additional information and complaint filing procedures are available through the Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-4-USWAGE or www.wagehour.dol.gov, and through OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA or www.osha.gov.