Public works: wages: employer payment contributions.

Existing law requires that, except as specified, not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages, determined by the Director of Industrial Relations, as specified, be paid to workers employed on public works projects. Existing law deems per diem wages to include specified employer payments and provides that employer payments are a credit against the obligation to pay the general prevailing rate of per diem wages. Existing law, however, provides that credits for employer payments do not reduce the obligation to pay the hourly straight time or overtime wages found to be prevailing. This bill would provide that an increased employer payment contribution that results in a lower hourly straight time or overtime wage is not considered to be a violation of the applicable prevailing wage determination so long as specified conditions are met. This bill would provide that an increased employer payment contribution that results in a lower taxable wage is not a violation of the applicable prevailing wage determination if specified conditions are met.