NJDOL Issues Stop-Work Orders Against Two New York Contractors for Wage Theft and Labor Violations
Summary
The New Jersey Department of Labor issued stop-work orders against DM Windows of Staten Island, NY, and BLK1 Construction Corp. of New York, NY, on April 14, 2026, after investigators found wage theft and multiple labor law violations on a Newark apartment complex construction project at 430 Market Street. DM Windows, a window installation subcontractor hired by Silhouette Glass U.S., was found to have violated improper worker classification, unpaid wages, and minimum wage, overtime, and Earned Sick Leave requirements affecting 43 workers. BLK1 Construction Corp., a carpentry subcontractor hired by Pop Interiors Inc., was found to have similar violations affecting 38 workers. Civil penalties of $5,000 per day may be assessed against employers conducting business in violation of a stop-work order.
Out-of-state contractors performing construction work in New Jersey face active enforcement from NJDOL for worker misclassification, wage theft, and Earned Sick Leave violations. Employers with multi-state operations should audit their classification practices, payroll documentation, and sick leave record-keeping to ensure compliance with New Jersey requirements before beginning work on New Jersey projects.
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GovPing monitors New Jersey DOL News for new labor & employment regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 13 changes logged to date.
What changed
NJDOL issued two stop-work orders on April 14, 2026, against out-of-state contractors working on a Newark apartment complex after investigators found improper worker classification, unpaid wages, and Earned Sick Leave violations. DM Windows (Staten Island) had 43 affected workers, and BLK1 Construction Corp. (New York) had 38 affected workers.
Construction firms and subcontractors performing work in New Jersey should ensure compliance with state wage and hour requirements, including proper employee classification, minimum wage, overtime pay, and Earned Sick Leave documentation. Out-of-state employers are explicitly subject to New Jersey labor laws when working in the state, and NJDOL has demonstrated active enforcement through 219 stop-work orders issued since July 2019.
Penalties
Civil penalty of $5,000 per day against an employer conducting business in violation of a stop-work order
Archived snapshot
Apr 25, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
NJDOL Halts Work for Two New York Contractors on Newark Apartment Complex Construction Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2026
TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) issued separate stop-work orders against two out-of-state contractors on April 14, 2026, after NJDOL investigators found wage theft and multiple labor law violations affecting workers on the construction of an apartment building at 430 Market Street in Newark.
Employer #1: DM Windows, Staten Island, N.Y.
Nature of Work: Window installation
Details: DM Windows was hired to the project by subcontractor Silhouette Glass U.S. of Brooklyn, N.Y.
Violations: Improper classification of construction workers; failing to properly classify employees; hindering the investigation/failure to provide records; unpaid wages/late payment; minimum wage, overtime rate, and Earned Sick Leave records and notification/posting violations.
Workers Affected: 43
Employer #2: BLK1 Construction Corp., New York, N.Y.
Nature of Work: Carpentry
Details: BLK1 Construction Corp. was hired to the project by subcontractor Pop Interiors Inc. of Monroe, N.Y.
Violations: Improper classification of construction workers; failing to properly classify employees; hindering the investigation/failure to provide records; unpaid wages/late payment; records, overtime rate, and Earned Sick Leave records and notification/posting violations.
Workers Affected: 38
“New Jersey’s labor laws apply to every employer working in this state, regardless of where they come from,” said Assistant Commissioner for Wage and Hour Compliance Joseph Petrecca. “Out-of-state employers who do business in New Jersey have a legal obligation to play by our rules and treat workers fairly.”
NJDOL has issued 219 stop-work orders since these powers were expanded in July 2019.
Stop-work orders are initiated by NJDOL to halt work being performed in a manner that exploits workers, or is otherwise noncompliant with state laws and regulations. An employer may appeal a stop-work order, in which case NJDOL has seven days to schedule a hearing.
NJDOL continues to monitor locations where stop-work orders have been issued, and can assess civil penalties of $5,000 per day against an employer conducting business in violation of the order. The stop-work order may be lifted if and when any remaining back wages and penalties have been paid and all related issues have been resolved.
For more information on worker benefits and protections, please visit myworkrights.nj.gov.
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