The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development has the power to halt work at work sites, public or private, when there is strong evidence of exploitation. Gov. Phil Murphy expanded the department’s powers of investigation in 2019 and again in 2021. Since 2019, after violations in state wage, benefit or tax laws were investigated, over $2.7 million in back wages owed to affected employees, liquidated damages and penalties have been assessed. Over 110 stop-work orders have been issued since 2019. 

“Having the authority to shut down work as soon as wrongdoing is identified has exponentially strengthened the department’s effectiveness at enforcing our state’s wage and hour laws and protecting workers and law-abiding employers,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “We’ve made it clear: If we find you are cheating workers, we will halt your business operations, and in many cases, you will be told to leave the job by the general contractor or contracting authority.”   

Of the stop-work orders issued, 87 were for construction jobs, 44 of which were public works projects. Eleven contractors were debarred from future public works jobs.