On April 5, 2018, Maryland Senate Bill 853 was enacted into law as Chapter 17. The new law, which takes effect on Oct. 1, 2018, will hold general construction contractors liable for state wage violations when their subcontractors take advantage of their workforce and do not pay wages and benefits on-time as required by law.

“This is an important new law that will ensure that construction workers will be able to collect unpaid wages and benefits when they are exploited by these unscrupulous construction contractors,” said Robert Naughton, Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters tri-state regional manager. “The new law will be a big help to the businesses we work with and will also be an important new tool to combat wage theft, which is depriving our state of much needed tax revenues that could be used for education, social services and public works.”

Maryland State Senate President Mike Miller said he was “extremely proud to stand with the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters in helping to pass a piece of legislation that supports the hardworking men and women throughout Maryland's construction industry” and State Senator Kathy Klausmeier “was proud to sponsor a bill that makes it a little easier for the construction industry and labor community to tackle the rampant problem of wage theft.”

“The Maryland General Assembly is proud to stand with labor in fighting wage theft,” said Maryland State House Speaker Michael Busch. “We hope that this legislation will create a construction industry in Maryland that is better for both workers and businesses alike.”

“This legislation, while creating an effective tool for employees to collect unpaid wages, is a big win for the law-abiding construction business community,” said State Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti, who also sponsored the state bill.

About the NRCC

The Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters (NRCC) represents nearly 40,000 men and women in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. NRCC is one of the largest trade unions on the East Coast and equips professional men and women carpenters with the skills, training and quality workmanship that are demanded in today's construction industry.

For more information on NRCC, visit northeastcarpenters.org.

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