Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey
October 15, 2020
Construction firms cited for underpaying workers 71% at Sutton Police Department project
Three Massachusetts construction companies were cited for nearly $640,000 for prevailing wage violations related to work done on a Sutton Police Station project, Attorney General Maura Healey’s office announced on Wednesday.
The companies include Machados Construction Services LLC of Burlington and its manager Leandro Machado, who were issued five citations totaling $398,913; Real Construction Inc. of Franklin and its president Elismar J. Custodio, who were issued two citations totaling $217,738; and, WF North Lion Inc. of Milford and Wirley M. De Freitas, who were issued five citations totaling $20,145.
“Companies that try to gain an unfair advantage over their competitors by not paying workers will be held accountable,” Healey said in a statement. “Prevailing wage laws are in place to ensure there is a level playing field for those who work on our public projects.”
The companies came under investigation after the AG’s office received a referral from the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters alleging construction workers on the Sutton Police Station project were not being paid the prevailing wage, according to a press release from the Attorney General’s office.
According to the referral, workers on the project were paid between $15 and $20 an hour while the state-manded prevailing wage rate was set at $68.72 per hour.
The investigation found Machados had underpaid employees on another public construction project associated with the Malden Housing Authority.
Prevailing wages are set to ascertain quality workmanship and fairness in public contracts, according to the AG’s office.
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Anonymous
October 15, 2020
$68.72 an hour? No wonder why all government projects and bloated and overbudget!
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