---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6708"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6708"
heading: "Wage standards for laborers and mechanics; enforcement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6708"
units:
  - "Chapter 80 — Public Works Employment"
  - "Subchapter I — Local Public Works"
---

# §6708. Wage standards for laborers and mechanics; enforcement


All laborers and mechanics employed on [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) assisted by the [Secretary](/usc/42/6701.md?p=1) under this chapter shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) in the locality as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/6701.md?p=1) of Labor in accordance with sections 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40. The [Secretary](/usc/42/6701.md?p=1) shall not extend any financial assistance under this chapter for such [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) without first obtaining adequate assurance that these labor standards will be maintained upon the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) work. The [Secretary](/usc/42/6701.md?p=1) of Labor shall have, with respect to the labor standards specified in this provision, the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176; 64 Stat. 1267), and [section 3145 of title 40](/usc/40/3145.md).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–369, title I, § 109, July 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 1001; Pub. L. 95–28, title I, § 108, May 13, 1977, 91 Stat. 119.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950, referred to in text, is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Codification

In text, “sections 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40” substituted for “the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276a—276a–5)” and “section 3145 of title 40” substituted for “section 2 of the Act of June 13, 1964, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276c)”, meaning section 2 of the Act of June 13, 1934, on authority of Pub. L. 107–217, § 5(c), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1303, the first section of which enacted Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works.

### Amendments

1977—Pub. L. 95–28 substituted “All laborers and mechanics employed” for “All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors”.