TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) issued stop-work orders to one general contractor and one subcontractor at two separate construction sites: Lincoln Elementary School in Edison and Darlington Golf Course in Mahwah. 

Investigators from the NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance delivered the four stop-work notices on July 14 to Modern Technology Inc. of Farmingdale and subcontractor The Kemmerer Group Inc. of Fleetwood, Pa., who were working at Lincoln Elementary School, and to Zenith Construction Services Inc. of Orange and subcontractor Gorilla Netting L.L.C. of Palm Harbor, Fla., at the Mahwah site. 

Modern Technology Inc. and Zenith Construction Services Inc. were each cited and assessed penalties of $2,500 for hiring an unregistered subcontractor. Penalties of $2,500 each were assessed to The Kemmerer Group Inc. and Gorilla Netting L.L.C. for failure to register. 

“The NJDOL has been vigilant in ensuring contractors performing public works jobs are in compliance with prevailing wage and other laws relating to workers’ rights and safety, including prevailing wage, contractor registration, and making contributions to workers’ compensation and unemployment insurances,” said Joe Petrecca, Assistant Commissioner of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance. “We continue to make every effort to hold bad actors accountable, and work to make sure only reputable contractors are afforded the privilege of working on projects paid for by taxpayer dollars.” 

Stop-work orders are initiated by the NJDOL to halt work being performed in a manner that exploits workers, or is otherwise noncompliant with state laws and regulations, such as performing work as an unregistered public works contractor. 

The NJDOL maintains a record of registered public works contractors that should be consulted by any government agency or entity before hiring for a public works project. Doing so can help avoid unnecessary project delays and extra costs to businesses, schools, government entities, and taxpayers. The current list contains more than 6,000 businesses, and is searchable by name, address, registration date, and certificate number.  

In addition, registered public works contractors are required to participate in Registered Apprenticeship programs, which ensures that public funds contribute to the training of New Jersey workers in the construction sector.  

For more information on the NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance, please visit: myworkrights.nj.gov.