Wage Theft Prevention

Minnesota Statute 462A.051 requires applicants for Minnesota Housing funding to disclose any wage theft-related violations from the past five years. This includes convictions, court judgments, legal settlements, ongoing investigations, or lawsuits. These requirements apply to all multiunit residential housing projects seeking funding after August 1, 2024, regardless of award amount or use of loan proceeds.

To comply, applicants must submit required forms, maintain transparency, and ensure contractors meet Minnesota’s responsible contractor criteria. Failure to comply may result in denied or withheld funding. 

Applicants for Minnesota Housing funding must follow these steps: 

1. Disclose Wage Theft History – Submit a Wage Theft Disclosure Certification Form at the time of application, reporting any past violations.
2. Verify Contractor Compliance – Submit a Wage Theft Prevention Verification Form at time the application and, if new or additional contractors or subcontractors have been added, again before closing or funding to confirm compliance with responsible contractor criteria.
3. Ensure Public Transparency – Designate a Public Information Officer, provide public access to disclosures within 14 days, and maintain a certified contractor list, updated monthly.
4. Address Wage Theft Violations – If violations occur, develop a Wage Theft Prevention Plan, submit it to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) for approval, and provide the approved plan to Minnesota Housing.

The contractor list must include business details, scope of work, registration numbers, and worker count.

For questions or concerns: 

Reference the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (forthcoming) for additional guidance. This is a living document with updates happening as needed. Check back for new questions and updated guidance - coming soon

• Wage theft complaints should be directed to DLI at 651-284-5075 or dli.laborstandards@state.mn.us. 

• Technical questions about compliance should be addressed to Minnesota DLI. 

• Public requests for wage theft-related information should be directed to Minnesota Housing Data Requests. 

Applicants should consult their legal counsel to determine if additional funder-specific requirements apply. Compliance with state wage theft laws is mandatory and cannot be substituted with other labor provisions, such as Davis-Bacon requirements