Advising And Defending Businesses

Public Works Contractors Are Now Required To Pay Apprentices Prevailing Wage For Pre-employment Testing, Training, And Examinations

On Behalf of | Dec 21, 2021 | Employment Law

Assembly Bill 1926, which was approved by Governor Brown on September 28, 2016, amends Labor Code section 1777.5 to require, in most circumstances, that apprentices who are dispatched to Public Works projects to undergo testing, training, an examination, or other pre-employment process as a condition of employment be paid for the time spent on the required pre-employment activity, including travel time to and from the required activity, at the prevailing rate of per diem wages for apprentices in the trade to which he or she is registered. With the exception of those that fail a drug/alcohol test, this requirement applies to all dispatched apprentices – even those not ultimately hired for the project.

As such, starting January 1, 2017, contractors seeking to utilize apprentices on Public Works projects should plan to pay each apprentice at the apprentice prevailing wage rate for all time spent ,including travel time, on all pre-employment activities required as a condition of employment on said project.