Comptroller Mendoza highlights the office’s success in enforcing prevailing wage laws
As Labor Day approaches, Comptroller Susana Mendoza is reminding workers, business agents and labor groups about how the Illinois Office of Comptroller (IOC) can help workers on publicly funded projects who aren’t being paid according to state law.
“Thanks to an executive order I signed in 2019, my office has the authority to stop payments to contractors found violating prevailing wage laws,” said Mendoza. “This is a powerful tool to deter wage theft and protect workers. The men and women building our roads, bridges and schools work hard and deserve to be treated fairly. I’ll keep fighting for them and holding bad actors accountable.”
A portal on the IOC website makes it easy to submit an inquiry, which is then investigated by office staff.
So far in 2026, the IOC has received 111 inquiries. 67 of those cases have been resolved, resulting in more than $200,000 in back wages being paid to workers who were shorted. Cases include broadband, solar, EV charging station projects and more.
Last year, the Comptroller’s office received 147 inquiries, with 74 resolved and over $100,000 in back wages paid out to workers.
Since 2019, 576 inquiries have been filed and 461 of those have been resolved. Over $500,000 in back wages have been recovered since Comptroller Mendoza signed her executive order creating the program.
2026 cases include:
• A Metro East area Illinois Department of Transportation project, where the general contractor claimed the trucking “broker” was a supplier and exempt from the Prevailing Wage Act. The IOC withheld $500k in payments until resolved. In the end, back wage payments will total over $100,000 to all drivers.
• The IOC joined forces with the Mid-America Regional Carpenters Director of Organizing for Central Illinois and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to ensure fair pay on a $1 million Quincy Park District project, where a contractor’s certified payroll and an individual at the Park District claimed all the work was done by one individual. The IOC withheld the final disbursement of $557,000 until the office received information about the subcontractors involved.
• The IOC worked with IBEW Local 196 and the East Moline School District to recover back wages owed to short-changed workers on a Connect Illinois broadband project and to expose a contractor’s false claim that he was a signatory contractor familiar with prevailing wage requirements. Workers were ultimately paid in full, and the school board moved forward with a compliant contract recommended by an independent fair-contracting organization.
Education can help stave off potential problems before they start.
• For example, IOC prevailing wage officers and our outreach team met with Illinois Office of State Fire Marshal staff to ensure recipients of its new grant program to build badly needed fire stations in small communities comply with all prevailing wage requirements.
• Working with IBEW Local 649 and Carpenters Local 664, the IOC was able to intervene in a renovation project where a former Walmart in Jerseyville was being converted into Illinois Department of Children and Family Services office space. Prevailing wage staff had concerns about worker compensation and the submission of required payroll documentation. IOC staff made direct contact with the property owner, located in California, and provided an explanation of Illinois Prevailing Wage laws and the requirements associated with state-funded construction projects. Once the owner understood the legal requirements and the importance of compliance, he took corrective action and hired a qualified general contractor to oversee the project.
Labor groups are encouraged to reach out to the IOC to have our prevailing wage officers come and speak about the office’s prevailing wage enforcement efforts.
The prevailing wage is set by county by the Illinois Department of Labor, designating the least amount of money and benefits a contractor is required to pay workers. Besides ensuring fair pay, these laws are also necessary to help create a level playing field and fair bidding process for all contractors on taxpayer-funded projects.
Throughout September, the IOC will be highlighting cases that have been resolved and speak with business agents who have reported violations. Follow us on Facebook, X, Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
For more information about the Comptroller’s Prevailing Wage Enforcement Unit and a searchable transparency page for all state construction contracts, visit the Comptroller’s prevailing wage webpage.