Reports of employers using immigration threats to intimidate workers are rising across California. Advocates warn the tactic can silence workers and discourage them from reporting wage theft and other labor violations.

Washington construction workers are losing millions of dollars to wage theft each year. A new investigation into the Ferndale City Hall project highlights allegations of underpayment, worker misclassification, and growing calls for stronger oversight and accountability across the state's construction industry.

The North Coast States Carpenters Union is urging Chico Unified School District to strengthen contractor screening standards, alleging that some firms bidding on public school projects have records of wage theft and labor violations. The concerns come as the district begins work funded by the voter-approved $239 million Measure C bond program.

Federal prosecutors say two Orlando residents were sentenced for operating a massive off-the-books construction payroll scheme that funneled nearly $149 million through shell labor arrangements to evade payroll taxes and workers’ compensation costs.

The report finds misclassified construction workers lose roughly $20,000 a year—far more than in lower-wage industries—while improper classification gives noncompliant contractors a bidding advantage. The result: distorted competition, reduced labor standards, and increased legal and financial risks across the industry.

A California contractor must pay $468,505 to 137 workers after a federal probe uncovered unpaid wages, missed payroll, and retaliation—highlighting persistent wage theft risks in construction’s subcontracting chains.

Connecticut carpenters and union leaders are calling attention to alleged payroll fraud and wage theft in the construction industry, urging stronger enforcement and accountability from state officials to protect workers and ensure fair pay.

A construction union has challenged Sacramento County’s decision to award Bobo Construction a $14.85 million contract for a youth behavioral health center project, calling for closer scrutiny of the contractor’s record. The county says all concerns were addressed during procurement.

A federal court ordered an Escondido, California drywall contractor to pay $790,000 after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found widespread minimum wage and overtime violations. The ruling follows findings that more than 580 construction workers were underpaid, reinforcing federal enforcement against wage theft in the construction industry.

DC Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced a $1.5 million settlement with Brothers Mechanical Inc. for illegally misclassifying hundreds of construction workers. The company will repay affected workers, pay District penalties, and undergo three years of monitoring after investigators found workers were denied overtime, sick leave, and key employee protections on major development projects.