# Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-407: 18-2-407 Forfeiture for failure to pay standard prevailing rate of wages

> Montana · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-407

## Section

- **Citation:** Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-407
- **Heading:** 18-2-407 Forfeiture for failure to pay standard prevailing rate of wages
- **Jurisdiction:** Montana
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MT Code / Title 18 / Chapter 2 / Part 4 / Section 18-2-407

## Text

18-2-407 . Forfeiture for failure to pay standard prevailing rate of wages. (1) Except as provided in 18-2-403 , a contractor, subcontractor, or employer who pays workers or employees at less than the standard prevailing rate of wages as established under the public works contract shall forfeit to the department a penalty at a rate of up to 20% of the delinquent wages plus fringe benefits, attorney fees, audit fees, and court costs. Money collected by the department under this section must be deposited in the general fund. A contractor, subcontractor, or employer shall also forfeit to the employee the amount of wages owed plus $25 a day for each day that the employee was underpaid.

(2) Whenever it appears to the contracting agency or to the commissioner that there is insufficient money due to the contractor or the employer under the terms of the contract to cover penalties, the commissioner may, within 90 days after the filing of notice of completion of the project and its acceptance by the contracting agency, maintain an action in district court to recover all penalties and forfeitures due. This part does not prevent the individual worker who has been underpaid or the commissioner on behalf of all the underpaid workers from maintaining an action for recovery of the wages due under the contract as provided in Title 39, chapter 3, part 2.

## Nearby sections

- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-401 18-2-401 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-401.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-402 18-2-402 Standard prevailing rate of wages](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-402.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-403 18-2-403 Preference of Montana labor in public works -- wages -- tax-exempt project -- federal exception](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-403.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-404 18-2-404 Approval of public works contract -- bond](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-404.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-406 18-2-406 Posting wage scale and fringe benefits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-406.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-407 18-2-407 Forfeiture for failure to pay standard prevailing rate of wages](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-407.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-409 18-2-409 Montana residents to be employed on state construction contracts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-409.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-411 18-2-411 Creation of prevailing wage rate districts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-411.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-412 18-2-412 Method for payment of standard prevailing wage](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-412.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-413 18-2-413 Standard prevailing rate of wages for building construction services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-413.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-414 18-2-414 Standard prevailing rate of wages for heavy construction services and for highway construction services -- definition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-414.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-415 18-2-415 Standard prevailing rate of wages for nonconstruction services -- survey](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-415.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-416 18-2-416 Wages paid to registered apprentices](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-416.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 18-2-417 18-2-417 Wage rate adjustments for multiyear contracts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-417.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T18_C2_P4_S18-2-407. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.