Which act mandates the payment of federal employee rates and fringe benefits on federally financed construction contracts?

The Davis-Bacon Act is the legislation that requires the payment of federal employee rates and fringe benefits on federally financed construction contracts. This act was enacted to ensure that laborers and mechanics employed on public works projects are paid fairly, in accordance with the prevailing wage rates for similar work in the local area.

By mandating that federal contracts adhere to these wage standards, the Davis-Bacon Act helps to protect workers from exploitation and provides a level playing field for contractors. Contractors are required to pay their workers a minimum wage that corresponds to what is typically paid for comparable work within the same geographical area, ensuring consistency and fairness within public contracting.

The other acts listed do address different labor and employment issues but do not specifically target wage standards for federally financed construction contracts. The Smith-Hughes Act primarily focuses on vocational education, the Wagner Act deals with labor relations and the right to organize, and the Walsh-Healy Public Contracts Act sets labor standards for certain federal contracts but does not cover federally financed construction projects specifically as the Davis-Bacon Act does.