Mendoza Reminds Construction Workers About Illinois Prevailing Wage Laws

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Comptroller Mendoza reminds construction workers and union groups about Illinois prevailing wage laws

The construction season is about to heat up, and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza wants workers on publicly funded projects to know her office is available to help if they aren’t being paid a fair wage.

The prevailing wage is set by county, 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.

“Our hardworking men and women building roads, securing bridges and working on new buildings should know that I have their backs,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “If workers feel they aren’t getting paid the correct wage, they can file an inquiry with my office and we will investigate.”

In 2019, Comptroller Mendoza signed an executive order to give state prevailing wage laws more teeth when it comes to enforcement. It let the Illinois Office of Comptroller (IOC) stop state payments to any contractor found to be in violation of prevailing wage laws.

“Suspending payment to unscrupulous contractors has been an effective tool in deterring wage theft, so we want to hear from workers who aren’t being paid in accordance with state law,” Mendoza said. “We also appreciate labor groups that reach out to us to report pay disparities.”

Last year, the Comptroller’s office received 147 inquiries, and about half have been resolved. So far this year, we have investigated 18 cases and several of them have already been resolved.

Two that we are currently looking at are large broadband projects, as well as an IDOT project that will likely result in back wages being paid. In the third quarter of 2025, while working with local union business agents in the northern region of the state, my office helped to educate a municipality on red flags to look out for during their bidding process to avoid Prevailing Wage Act violations before they occur. While this project did not carry state funding, our staff was able to point out discrepancies in pay to the city and led to a compliant, signatory contractor being brought in to take over this project.

A portal on the IOC website makes it easy for individuals to submit an inquiry, which is then investigated by office staff.

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.

For more information, visit the Comptroller’s prevailing wage webpage.