Which law stipulates that contractors must pay certain wage levels on federal projects?

The Davis-Bacon Act is the law that mandates contractors and subcontractors on federal projects to pay their laborers and mechanics at least the locally prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits. This legislation was enacted in 1931 and aims to ensure that workers are fairly compensated in alignment with the wages typical for the area in which they work, thereby promoting equitable compensation practices in federal contracting.

By establishing a baseline of wage standards, the Davis-Bacon Act helps protect workers from being underpaid on government-funded projects, which could undermine fair competition among contractors. It serves to uphold labor standards and ensure that public funds contribute to maintaining decent wages within communities.

While the other laws mentioned, like the Walsh-Healey Act and the Service Contract Act, also pertain to wage regulations in various contexts, they do not specifically govern wage levels on federal construction projects like the Davis-Bacon Act. The Occupational Safety and Health Act primarily focuses on workplace safety and health standards rather than wage levels.