NJ Halts Work by Four Out-of-State Contractors at Pompton Lakes High School

Stop-work orders cite labor law violations including unpaid wages, misclassification, and unregistered subcontractors

POMPTON LAKES, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has issued stop-work orders to four out-of-state contractors working on the Pompton Lakes High School construction project, citing multiple violations of state public works regulations, including failure to register, misclassification of workers, and unpaid prevailing wages.

The orders, issued on August 13, 2025, follow investigations by NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour Compliance and target a contracting chain led by Safeware Inc. of Lanham, Maryland. Safeware, the project’s primary contractor, was cited for employing an unregistered subcontractor, which triggered further enforcement actions down the subcontracting line.

The most serious violations were committed by American Defense Solutions L.L.C. of Phoenix, Arizona, which was hired by Safeware. NJDOL found that the firm had improperly classified construction workers, failed to pay prevailing wages on time, and operated without required state registration. The Phoenix-based company also hired another unregistered subcontractor, further compounding violations.

American Defense Solutions L.L.C. of Washington, Michigan, subcontracted by the Arizona-based entity, was cited for similar violations including improper worker classification, unpaid or late wages, and failure to register with the state as a public works contractor.

Additionally, A&M Site Management L.L.C. of Utica, Michigan, which was subcontracted by the Michigan-based American Defense Solutions, was issued a stop-work order for failure to register.

These enforcement actions bring the total number of stop-work orders issued by NJDOL to 201 since the department’s expanded authority took effect in July 2019. Stop-work orders remain in effect until all back wages, penalties, and outstanding violations are resolved. Employers found operating in violation of such orders may face civil penalties of $5,000 per day.

NJDOL has reiterated the responsibility of government entities and school boards to verify that all contractors working on public projects are properly registered under the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act. The department maintains a searchable registry of certified public works contractors, which is intended to help prevent legal and financial setbacks on state-funded projects.

Furthermore, registered contractors must participate in Registered Apprenticeship programs, ensuring that public construction funds support workforce development within New Jersey.

For more details on workers’ rights and contractor obligations, NJDOL encourages the public to visit myworkrights.nj.gov.