BOSTON – A Lynn contractor has been cited for violations of state wage laws, according to Attorney General Maura Healey.
The DA’s office issued citations totaling $35,055 in restitution and penalties against One Way Painting & Roofing and owner Gerasimos Moschopoulos for failure to pay prevailing wages on a public contract, failure to submit accurate payroll records, and violation of earned sick time law.
The company has paid the restitution in full and has agreed to pay the penalty amounts in full, Healey said.
The AG’s Fair Labor Division began an investigation following a complaint from the Lowell Housing Authority. They alleged One Way appeared to be paying employees lower wages on a roof replacement public works project. An investigation confirmed that several employees were being paid at the incorrect prevailing wage rate, the AG said.
Additionally, investigators found while the company offered sick leave to employees, they failed to properly accrue leave and track use. One Way also failed to submit sufficient payroll records. The company has since come into full compliance with state labor laws, the AG said.
One Way did not return a call seeking comment.
Under the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law, contractors and subcontractors engaged in public construction projects must pay their employees a special minimum wage. The required wage rate is based on the occupational classification for the type of work the employees perform.
The AG’s Office said it has prioritized wage theft in the construction industry. Last year, the AG’s Fair Labor Division issued 114 citations against 53 employers in the trades, for a total of nearly $2.5 million in assessed restitution and penalties impacting more than 650 workers.
“Our office enforces these laws to ensure that all contractors meet their commitments to the public and can’t gain a competitive advantage by not following the law,” Healey said in a statement.