An Act Concerning Temporary Changes To The Prevailing Wage Threshold.
If enacted, the bill would directly impact the state’s prevailing wage laws, which are designed to ensure that workers on government-funded projects are paid fair wages. By increasing the threshold amounts, fewer projects may be subject to these prevailing wage requirements. Advocates of the bill argue that this would help alleviate financial burdens during a time when government budgets were tight, enabling more projects to move forward without the encumbrance of higher wage mandates that could inflate project costs.
SB00075 proposes temporary changes to the prevailing wage thresholds in Connecticut. The bill aims to raise the threshold for projects requiring prevailing wages, allowing renovations to have a threshold of four hundred thousand dollars and new projects one million dollars. This change is effective for contracts entered into between the bill's enactment and January 1, 2015. The intent is to provide relief for government capital projects, potentially stimulating construction and renovation activities within the state.
However, the proposal may face opposition from labor groups who fear that raising the prevailing wage threshold could lead to lower wages for workers on government contracts. Critics argue that prevailing wage laws are essential in maintaining fair labor standards and preventing the race to the bottom in wage competition. Furthermore, there could be concerns about the long-term implications for workers’ rights and income stability if fewer projects adhere to prevailing wage standards.