Enforcement of laws concerning labor; charges for transportation and meals; penalty; exception

1. The Department shall: (a) Cooperate with the Labor Commissioner in the enforcement of the state labor laws insofar as the labor laws relate to labor performed in construction, maintenance and repair of highways under the jurisdiction of the Department. (b) Require that any work done, either by contract or day’s pay, must be paid for at the legal wage as fixed by law. 2. A contractor shall not charge persons seeking employment for transportation or fares in case of their being refused employment or in case of being discharged from employment, such transportation or fares applying to their return to the nearest city or town. 3. A contractor for any improvements on highways furnishing board for his or her employees shall not charge more than $3.50 per day for three substantial meals. 4. If any contractor violates any of the provisions of this section three times in any 1 year, the Department shall refuse the contractor the right to bid on any contract for 1 year, or participate in any contract as subcontractor or in any manner whatever during the period. 5. The Department and the Labor Commissioner shall enforce the provisions of this section. 6. This section does not apply to work done directly by any public utility pursuant to an order of the Department or other public authority, whether or not done under public supervision or direction, or paid for wholly or in part out of public money.