On a public works project, the prevailing wage obligation applies to:
Explanation
Labor Code §1774 binds the contractor and every subcontractor to pay not less than the prevailing rate, and §1772 covers all workers employed on the public work in covered classifications. The duty is not waivable by silence, so a worker who never asks is still owed it. Union membership and dispatch are irrelevant: the rate is set by craft and county, not by who hired the worker. Confining it to the prime's own payroll is the error §1774 exists to prevent, since most public works labour is performed by subcontractors.
Law Reference: Labor Code §1774; §1772This topic, taught in full in the CSLB Law & Business guide. CSLB Law & Business — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $24.99 · 14-day refund →
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