The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has issued a situational update regarding the status of the Public Works Website and issues related to Project Registration (PWC-100), Public Works Contractor Registration (PWCR) and Certified Payroll Reporting (eCPR) registration. Please see below.
Message to Public Works Contractors and Awarding Bodies
Recent updates to the public works website services include:
(1) Manual eCPR- crafts and classifications updates:
– electrician, glazier, painter, sheet metal worker, carpenter, plasterer, roofer, tile finisher, and more are now added.
(2) eCPR Employee Notes section updates:
o The Employee Notes section, which was previously limited to 49 characters, now allows up to 500 characters.
- This field should be used to itemize additional deductions or contributions that are not available in other eCPR fields, and to address manual calculations needed to adjust the total gross wages (for example, for garnishments or 401k contributions).
o The eCPR proof of submission report
- can be exported and printed from the dashboard to verify the date of submission for the general contractors or awarding body.
In June, DIR launched modernized Public Works website services, including a new unified platform to replace the PWC-100, PWCR, and eCPR applications.
There were technical issues encountered with the initial launch regarding associating accounts that impeded some registration or renewal attempts in the new system. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate the timely information provided by system users regarding the system errors, which helped us identify and resolve them. We appreciate your continued patience as we make improvements to the new system.
Many users are now learning the new system and can find the answers to their questions in the online support center which has recorded trainings, user guides, FAQs and other resources.
Please refer to the online support center before contacting the Public Works Unit.
If you need further assistance after consulting the support center, email Publicworks@dir.ca.gov.
Your email inquiry will be addressed in the order received. There is no dedicated phone line to assist with the technical support of Public Works registration and payment through the system. Our goal is to respond to your emails within five to ten business days.
Note: Contacting DIR phone numbers and emails outside of the Public Works unit will not result in additional assistance or information. Please refer to the online support center and public works email for assistance.
DIR’s new online portal continues to have glitches which have created issues for some contractors attempting to submit certified payroll online or to register or renew registration as a public works contractor with DIR.
DIR recognizes this problem and has posted the following notice on its webpage:
However, it is recommended that contractors experiencing issues:
- Continue to pay all prevailing wages and prepare weekly certified payroll reports (“CPR”).
- Attempt to upload eCPRs in a timely fashion and document any errors or rejection messages by printing your computer screen which includes the date and time.
- For each failed attempt to upload an eCPR, email DIR at publicworks@dir.ca.gov to notify them that DIR’s computer system failed to upload the reports.
- Assure your contracting partners of your continuing payment of prevailing wages and attempts to substantially comply with the statutory reporting requirements by providing the weekly CPR (redacted to remove private information such as social security numbers and addresses) to the general contractor, project owner, and any Labor Compliance Officer, as applicable.
- Once DIR’s Public Works website is functioning properly, upload all eCPRs that you were previously prevented from submitting.
- For contractors who have been unable to complete their DIR public works contractor registration and therefore cannot submit eCPRs, follow the same guidance above for documenting registration attempts, error messages, and communications with DIR. If you have proof that you registered previously and the registration is good past 2024, keep that documentation. If needed, provide this documentation to the general contractor, project owner, and any Labor Compliance Officer, as applicable.
This content was provided by WPCCA professional counsel and is for general informational purposes only. Readers should contact their own professional counsel for company specific matters in the relevant jurisdiction.