Construction Workers: Prevailing Wages, Unpaid Travel, and Contractor Bonds

Public works jobs carry mandated prevailing wage rates far above market, and private jobs still owe daily overtime and site-to-site travel — with a license bond waiting behind every contractor.

What California Law Says

Public works projects require prevailing wages under Labor Code section 1770 and following, with certified payroll; violations route through the DLSE public works unit. Every licensed contractor also posts a CSLB bond that unpaid workers may claim against directly.

How to Fight Back, Step by Step

1. Determine whether your project was public works — schools, roads, government buildings — and pull the published prevailing rate for your craft.
2. Compare certified payroll to your actual hours; falsified certified payroll is a serious violation.
3. For any contractor, file a claim against the CSLB license bond for unpaid wages.
4. Track site-to-site travel and employer-mandated ride time.
5. File with the Labor Commissioner and report license violations to the CSLB in parallel.

Common Questions

My contractor is unlicensed. Does that hurt my wage claim?

It helps it — unlicensed contracting adds leverage, and the general contractor above often bears responsibility for the crew’s wages.

What does the license bond pay?

CSLB bonds provide a fund for damaged parties including unpaid workers; claims go directly to the surety and often pay without litigation.