Ohio Department of Commerce launches new prevailing wage rate system to ensure workers on public projects are paid fairly
The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance's Bureau of Wage & Hour has launched a new Prevailing Wage Rate system that makes it easier for government entities, businesses and the general public to view wage-related information for Ohio construction workers, ensuring they’re compensated fairly.
The brand-new system, which launched June 27, allows users to easily access prevailing wage rate information by occupation as well as jurisdictional area. In addition, the upgraded system features additional protections that enhance security.
In Ohio, contractors working on certain publicly funded construction projects are required to pay wages and benefits to their workers that match what is standard for that kind of work in that geographic area. This system helps to ensure employees are paid fairly. The Ohio Department of Commerce sets these rates, which can vary depending on the county and trade. The rules regarding prevailing wage rates can be found in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4115.
“The new Prevailing Wage Rate system represents a significant step forward in our commitment to transparency and fairness,” said Stephen Clegg, Chief of the Bureau of Wage and Hour. “By making wage information more accessible and secure, we are ensuring that Ohio workers are compensated fairly for their hard work. This upgrade not only benefits workers but also supports businesses and government entities in maintaining compliance with prevailing wage laws.”
As part of the system upgrade, all users who wish to access Prevailing Wage Rate information must now register with an OHID account. Previous login credentials used to access the old system are no longer valid. By utilizing their OHID to access the new platform, individuals are now able to easily and instantly update contact and login information through a self-portal, eliminating delays that previously impacted users.
To ensure users are able to access Prevailing Wage Rate information without interruption, users should create an OHID account if they do not already have one established. Individuals can register for an OHID account by visiting http://ohid.ohio.gov, and instructions on how to create an account are available at https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/com.ohio.gov/ADMIN/How_to_Crea….