Effective Aug. 15, registered contractors performing public work are required to report certified payroll records via the New Jersey Wage Hub (NJ Wage Hub).
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) said Wednesday it is sending notices to public bodies and registered public works contractors to remind them of this requirement, and to urge them to create accounts prior to Aug. 15 on NJ Wage Hub. The online portal that makes it easier for employers to comply with state labor laws, advances worker protections on public job sites, and improves transparency around fair wages.
NJ Wage Hub includes the NJ Certified Payroll Database, where construction contractors who perform public work can submit certified payroll records that are made available to the public in accordance with a 2023 law. The Prevailing Wage Act requires public works contractors to submit weekly payroll records. The mandate requires certified payrolls be submitted both online via NJ Wage Hub and in hard copy to the contracting governing body.
“It is of utmost importance that both public bodies and registered public works contractors comply with this requirement under the law and prepare in advance by following the steps to register on NJ Wage Hub,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo.
“The online process for reporting certified payrolls, along with the many other tools available on the Hub, will help contractors and local governments manage their public works projects, while providing a central location for vital information so the state can ensure workers are protected and taxpayer dollars are invested wisely with trustworthy employers.”
NJ Wage Hub users must log in with their My New Jersey Account, which must be registered with NJDOL’s Employer Accounts Division. User Guides with detailed instructions for both Contractors and Public Bodies can be found at njwages.nj.gov.
The NJ Certified Payroll Database ensures anyone in the state can access, search, and review certified payroll records submitted through NJ Wage Hub – with certain information redacted to protect privacy – instead of having to file official requests for these records.
Cloud technology allows NJDOL to connect these tools to ensure public works contractors, public bodies, state officials, and the public all have access to the right information with functionality at their fingertips.
NJ Wage Hub was developed in partnership with Research Improving People’s Lives (RIPL), a tech-for-social-impact nonprofit that works with governments to help them use data, science, and technology to improve public policy and lives.
Since launching in August 2023, 374 contractors and 47 public bodies have registered through the portal, and 3,990 certified payroll records for 697 different public works projects have been reported and are available for public access at njwages.nj.gov.
