ORS 279C.850 Inspection to determine whether prevailing rate of wage being paid; civil action for failure to pay prevailing rate of wage or overtime

At any reasonable time the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may enter the office or business establishment of any contractor or subcontractor performing public works and gather facts and information necessary to determine whether the prevailing rate of wage is actually being paid by such contractor or subcontractor to workers upon public works.

Upon request by the commissioner, every contractor or subcontractor performing work on public works shall make available to the commissioner for inspection during normal business hours any payroll or other records in the possession or under the control of the contractor or subcontractor that are deemed necessary by the commissioner to determine whether the prevailing rate of wage is actually being paid by such contractor or subcontractor to workers upon public works. The commissioner’s request must be made a reasonable time in advance of the inspection.

Notwithstanding ORS 192.311 to 192.478, any record obtained or made by the commissioner under this section is not open to inspection by the public.

The commissioner may, without necessity of an assignment, initiate legal proceedings against employers to enjoin future failures to pay required prevailing rates of wage or overtime pay and to require the payment of prevailing rates of wage or overtime pay due employees. The commissioner is entitled to recover, in addition to other costs, such sum as the court or judge may determine reasonable as attorney fees. If the commissioner does not prevail in the action, the commissioner shall pay all costs and disbursements from the Bureau of Labor and Industries Account.