700 Olive Street • Saint Paul, MN 55130 Phone: 651.646.7207 • Fax: 651.645.

8318
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For immediate release Contact: Richard Kolodziejski

July 31, 2023 Public Affairs Director, NCSRCC
612-963-2489
rkolodziejski@ncsrcc.org

Accountability for Construction Worker Wage Theft Takes Effect August 1st

Beginning Tuesday, August 1, 2023, the Construction Worker Wage Protection Act, signed into
law during the 2023 Legislative Session, takes effect throughout Minnesota. Going forward,
construction contractors and developers in Minnesota will bear responsibility for wage theft that
takes place on their job sites. Construction workers who are victims of wage theft will have
recourse to collect unpaid wages from contractors and developers who will be responsible for the
wages owed employees by the subcontractors they choose to perform the work. Minnesota joins
Illinois as the only other state in the Midwest who has passed similar legislation.

The North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters (NCSRCC) worked diligently to assist
in the passing of nation-leading wage theft legislation in 2019. However, recent studies document
that this issue continues to be widespread, and we have not seen the levels of accountability for
wage theft and worker exploitation necessary to prevent companies from continuing to operate
under this business model. After August 1st, construction workers will finally have the ability to
seek unpaid wages from the larger developers responsible for hiring their subcontractors.

“The numbers of victimized workers being exploited for profit must not be tolerated,” said Adam
Duininck, Director of Government Relations for the NCSRCC. “Contractors and developers who
continue to exploit construction workers by hiring unethical subcontractors for the purpose of
evading taxes and increasing their profits are going to be subject to enforcement by the Minnesota
Department of Labor and Industry. There will be consequences, and we believe that this liability
will send a clear message to contractors and project owners that they are going to be held
accountable for their worksites.”

Finally, the Construction Workers Wage Protection Act provides contractors and developers the
necessary tools they need to prevent wage theft from occurring. They would be entitled to a
variety of information regarding the payroll practices of their subcontractors to ensure they do not
violate this statute, thereby preventing further violations and avoiding liability. “While
contractors and developers have always had the ability to put protective language in their
subcontractor’s agreements, the new statute provides legal authority to access payroll information
needed to ensure subcontractors are in compliance with the law and not exploiting workers,” said
Duininck.

The NCSRCC is dedicated to protecting all workers from unethical business practices by
subcontractors determined to profit off the backs of workers. If you have questions
regarding the effects of this new statute, please contact Richard Kolodziejski at 612-963-
2489 or rkolodziejski@ncsrcc.org.

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North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters (NCSRCC) represents 27,000 members in
36 Locals and 17 training centers throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota,
www.northcountrycarpenter.org
700 Olive Street • Saint Paul, MN 55130 Phone: 651.646.7207 • Fax: 651.645.8318
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South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Members in the six-state area include carpenters, industrial
workers, interior systems carpenters, millwrights, pile drivers and floor coverers.

www.northcountrycarpenter.org