What is the purpose of the Davis-Bacon Act in labor law?

The Davis-Bacon Act is a law that seeks to protect laborers and mechanics working on public works projects from being underpaid for their work. The Act sets a minimum wage rate for laborers and mechanics on federal government projects, including construction, repair, and reconstruction projects. The law was adopted in 1931 to ensure that workers on federal projects would be protected from “unfair competition” by employers who are ready to pay low wages. This would help to ensure that wages remain fair and competitive in the industry. The Act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay workers the local prevailing wage rate for their district. It also sets out record-keeping and reporting requirements for contractors and subcontractors. The idea is that when contractors and subcontractors pay a fair wage, workers are more likely to find it lucrative to stay in the industry and perform well. This quality assurance helps to ensure that the projects are finished to a satisfactory level. When projects are subject to the Davis-Bacon Act, project owners must also pay a "fringe benefit" rate, which is an additional payment made to employees for health and retirement benefits. This helps to ensure that workers are adequately compensated for their work and that their families are taken care of in their absence. Overall, the purpose of the Davis-Bacon Act is to ensure that laborers and mechanics working on federal public works projects are paid fairly and treated equitably in order to improve the quality of projects and ensure the public gets a good value for its money. In Virginia, the Act applies to all public works projects funded by the federal government.

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What is the purpose of the Davis-Bacon Act in labor law?

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