NJ Labor Department issues stop-work order to contractor on public safety building project in Somerset County

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. (Somerset County) — The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has issued a stop-work order to a Bergen County masonry contractor working on the South Bound Brook Public Safety Building and Police Department project after investigators identified multiple labor law violations affecting six workers.

The department announced Friday, Oct. 23, that its Division of Wage and Hour Compliance issued the order Oct. 16 against 3 J’s Masonry Corp. of Waldwick, a subcontractor performing concrete decking work and rebar installation at the construction site.

According to the department, investigators cited the company for failing to pay prevailing wages, failing to submit certified payroll records to the public body overseeing the project, failing to register as a public works contractor and failing to pay minimum wage. Additional violations included unpaid wages or late payments, failure to properly classify employees and improper classification of construction workers.

The department said 3 J’s Masonry was hired for the project by Suliman Construction LLC of Clifton, another subcontractor. G. Meyer Group Inc. of Brielle is the primary contractor overseeing the public safety building project.

“Public works projects should set the standard for fair labor practices, not undermine them,” said Assistant Commissioner for Wage and Hour Compliance Joseph Petrecca. “When contractors cut corners by shortchanging workers, they’re not only harming families – they’re also compromising the integrity of public projects and gaining unfair advantages over law-abiding contractors.”

Stop-work orders are issued by the Department of Labor when investigators determine that work is being performed in violation of state labor laws or regulations, including practices that exploit workers.

The orders require affected employers to halt work until the violations are addressed. Employers have the right to appeal, and the department must schedule a hearing within seven days if an appeal is filed.

According to state officials, the department continues monitoring worksites where stop-work orders have been issued and may assess civil penalties of $5,000 per day against employers that continue conducting business in violation of an order.

A stop-work order may be lifted once outstanding back wages and penalties have been paid and all related compliance issues have been resolved.

The department said it has issued 234 stop-work orders statewide since its enforcement authority was expanded in July 2019. The orders are intended to protect workers, ensure compliance with wage and hour laws and prevent contractors that violate labor regulations from gaining an unfair advantage on publicly funded projects.

State officials also reminded government agencies and public entities to verify that contractors are properly registered before awarding public works contracts. The department maintains an online database of registered public works contractors that can be searched by business name, address, registration date and certificate number.

Registered public works contractors are also required to participate in Registered Apprenticeship programs, which are designed to support workforce training in New Jersey’s construction industry.

The department did not specify the amount of unpaid wages involved in the South Bound Brook case or whether the stop-work order has been appealed.

Additional information about worker rights and protections is available at myworkrights.nj.gov.