Chapter 149 - LABOR AND INDUSTRIES

Section 149:1 - [Effective Until 10/29/2024] Definitions
Section 149:1 - [Effective 10/29/2024] Definitions
Section 149:2 - Duties and powers of attorney general; enforcement of chapter
Section 149:3 - Inspections and investigations
Section 149:4 - Reports of diseases
Section 149:5 - Investigations of industrial conditions; complaints; prosecutions
Section 149:6 - Safety devices and means to prevent accidents and diseases generally; fees for structural painting
Section 149:6 1/2 - Protection for employees under federal Occupational Safety and Health Act; occupational health and safety hazard advisory board
Section 149:6A - Monitoring, inspection and investigation of work involving asbestos
Section 149:6B - License for business activities involving asbestos; fee
Section 149:6C - Health and safety of general public and asbestos workers; rules and regulations
Section 149:6D - Complaints by employees relating to asbestos; retaliation by employer
Section 149:6D 1/2 - Employer required to reimburse Health Safety Net Trust Fund; penalization of employee prohibited
Section 149:6E - Violations of workplace standards relating to asbestos; cease and desist orders
Section 149:6F - Penalties
Section 149:6F 1/2 - Temporary restraining order or injunctive relief
Section 149:6G - Release or waiver of damages caused by asbestos
Section 149:7 - Committees for investigations and recommendation of regulations
Section 149:8 - Notices and hearings before adoption of regulations and orders; effective dates
Section 149:9 - Appeals; suspensions pending hearings; enforcement of orders; other remedies
Section 149:10 - Entry of places of employment for investigations
Section 149:11 - Reports by physicians generally
Section 149:11A - Occupational lead registry; blood lead testing reports; regulations; enforcement
Section 149:12 - Regulations prevailing over regulations of workmen's compensation insurer
Section 149:13 - Violations of regulations or orders
Section 149:14 - Annual reports of commissioner
Section 149:15 - Inspection districts; assignment of inspectors
Section 149:16 - Receipt of gift by inspector
Section 149:17 - Entry of places of employment for examinations and investigations; access to records
Section 149:18 - Duties of industrial health inspectors relative to minors
Section 149:18A - Longshore and waterfront operations; sanitary and safety conditions; tools
Section 149:18B - Confined spaces; ventilation
Section 149:18C - Power transmission equipment
Section 149:18D - Ropes, hooks and cranes; use and operation
Section 149:18E - Safety precautions in dangerous undertakings
Section 149:18F - Explosives
Section 149:18G - Industrial truck and internal combustion equipment; operation; construction of docks
Section 149:18H - Stop signals
Section 149:18I - Penalty
Section 149:19 - Prevention of employment
Section 149:19A - Copy of medical report for employee
Section 149:19B - Lie detector tests; use as condition of employment; penalty; civil action
Section 149:19C - Employment of aliens restricted; regulations; penalty
Section 149:20 - Coercion of agreement not to join a labor organization
Section 149:20A - Relief afforded by contract relative to membership in a labor or employer organization
Section 149:20B - Liability for unlawful acts of officers, members or agents of an organization
Section 149:20C - Definitions
Section 149:20D - Solicitation, acceptance or payment of money to encourage or discourage formation or functioning of a labor organization
Section 149:20E - Business combination transactions; termination or impairment of negotiated labor contract provisions covering persons engaged in employment in the commonwealth
Section 149:21 - False notices or advertisement for help or employment
Section 149:22 - Advertising for or soliciting employees during labor troubles; notice to employment agency; employment of children
Section 149:22A - Professional strikebreakers; obstruction of picketing
Section 149:23 - Filling place of employees; size of letters mentioning labor troubles; penalty
Section 149:23A - Armed guards during labor troubles; qualifications; violation of statute
Section 149:23B - Use of civil defense personnel in labor disputes
Section 149:24 - Persuasion and obtainment or communication of information during labor disputes
Section 149:24A - Age discrimination; dismissal or refusal to employ; penalty
Section 149:24B - Contract provisions
Section 149:24C - Investigation of complaints; ascertainment of age of employees; examination and transcript of records
Section 149:24D - Records of ages of employees; copy furnished to commissioner; violation of statute
Section 149:24E - Hindering investigation; refusal of information
Section 149:24F - Discharge of employee for furnishing evidence or testifying
Section 149:24G - Publication of name of employer; summons to show cause; liability for damages
Section 149:24H - Appeal from decision of commissioner
Section 149:24I - Inapplicability to farm laborers
Section 149:24J - Partial invalidity
Section 149:24L - Noncompetition agreements
Section 149:25 - Lodging, board and trade of public employees; statute part of employment contract
Section 149:26 - Public works; preference to veterans and citizens; wages
Section 149:27 - List of jobs; classification; schedule of wages; penalty
Section 149:27A - Appeals from classifications and wage determinations
Section 149:27B - Records of employees; payroll records; statements of compliance
Section 149:27C - Penalties for violations of certain sections by employers, contractors, subcontractors or their employees
Section 149:27D - "Construction" and "constructed" defined
Section 149:27E - Employment of residents in highway districts
Section 149:27F - Wages of operators of rented equipment; agreements; penalty; civil action
Section 149:27G - Wages of employees of moving contractors; contracts; civil action
Section 149:27H - Wages of employees of maintenance or cleaning contractors; contracts; civil action
Section 149:28 - Right of action against city or town for labor; filing statement; fee; limitations
Section 149:29 - Bonds for payment for labor, materials, rentals or transportation charges; enforcement of claim; notice of claim; speedy trial, appeal, consolidation; dismissal; legal fees; posting statute
Section 149:29A - Enforcement of surety bonds by persons furnishing labor or materials on private building projects
Section 149:29B - Waiver or cancellation of payment bond
Section 149:29C - Indemnification as part of contract
Section 149:29D - Surety company; bid, performance and payment bonds
Section 149:29E - Fairness in private construction contracts
Section 149:29F - Payment of retainage in private construction projects; notice of substantial completion
Section 149:30 - Eight hour day and six day week; emergencies; work on highways
Section 149:30A - Tours of duty and hours of work of state employees; regulations
Section 149:30B - Overtime of state employees; regulations
Section 149:30C - Work week of uniformed members of the state police; overtime service; compensation; rules and regulations
Section 149:31 - Eight hour day for towns and public works for towns; emergencies; acceptance of statute relating to employees of commonwealth
Section 149:32 - Scope of words "laborers, workmen and mechanics" and "requiring"
Section 149:33 - Hours of labor to make up Saturday half holiday
Section 149:33A - Five day and forty hour week for cities and towns; emergencies; overtime; reduction of compensation
Section 149:33B - Five day week and eight hour day for cities and towns; overtime; reduction of compensation
Section 149:33C - City and town employees; overtime; effective date
Section 149:33D - Blood donations; leave of absence without loss of pay
Section 149:33E - Leave of absence
Section 149:34 - Public contracts; stipulation as to hours and days of work; void contracts
Section 149:34A - Contracts for public works; workmen's compensation insurance; breach of contract; enforcement and violation of statute
Section 149:34B - Contracts for public works; wages for reserve police officer
Section 149:34C - Application of secs. 30, 34 and 35
Section 149:35 - Violation of sec. 30, 31 or 34
Section 149:36 - Nonapplicability of eight hour day and six day week statutes
Section 149:37 - Nine hour day for towns
Section 149:38 - Annual vacation for employees of commonwealth and metropolitan district commission
Section 149:39 - Hours of labor in institutions; employees with less hours under other statutes; emergencies
Section 149:41 - Saturday half holiday for commonwealth
Section 149:42 - Work by employees of commonwealth on day work basis
Section 149:43 - Nondiscrimination
Section 149:44 - Service by veterans on Memorial Day
Section 149:44 1/2 - Termination of employment of veteran following return from overseas duty
Section 149:44 3/4 - Preference in promotion or hiring of veterans, spouse of honorably discharged disabled veterans or surviving spouse of veterans
Section 149:44A - Definitions for secs. 149:44A to 149:44H; competitive bids; award; bonds; extreme emergency situations; records contracts not subject to competitive bid process
Section 149:44A 1/2 - Owner's project manager
Section 149:44B - Plans and specifications; bid deposits
Section 149:44C - Debarment from bidding
Section 149:44D - Submission of bid or offer; application for certification
Section 149:44D 1/2 - Prequalifying general contractors
Section 149:44D 3/4 - Prequalifying subcontractors
Section 149:44E - Filing of bids; forms; modular buildings
Section 149:44E 1/2 - Renovation and repair of state house and historic Suffolk County courthouse; solicitation of bids; evaluation of bids; contract award; payment and performance bonds
Section 149:44F - Plans and specifications; sub-bids; form; contents
Section 149:44G - Allowances; alternates; weather protection devices
Section 149:44H - Enforcement
Section 149:44I - Severability
Section 149:44J - Invitations to bid; notice; contents; violations; penalty
Section 149:44K, 149:44L - [Repealed]
Section 149:44M - Energy systems; life-cycle cost estimates
Section 149:45 - Work on holidays
Section 149:46 - Work for time lost by holidays
Section 149:47 - Sunday work without a day off
Section 149:48 - One day of rest in seven; operation of business on Sunday; violation of statute
Section 149:49 - Establishments not subject to statutes relating to Sunday work and rest days; railroads or railways
Section 149:50 - Work not subject to statutes relating to Sunday work and rest days
Section 149:50A - One day of rest in seven for watchmen and employees maintaining fires, violation of statute
Section 149:51 - Posting list of employees working on Sunday; work on days of rest
Section 149:51A - Exemption for special circumstances, from statute relating to days of rest and Sunday business
Section 149:52 - Time books; violation of statute
Section 149:52A - [Repealed]
Section 149:52A 1/2 - Veterans Day or Memorial Day services or exercises for veterans; granting of leave of absence; exceptions
Section 149:52B - Employment applications; volunteer work as experience
Section 149:52C - Personnel records; review by employee; corrections; penalty
Section 149:52D - Family and medical leave; enforcement
Section 149:52E - Leave for employee or family member of employee who are victims of abusive behavior or domestic violence
Section 149:54 - Core rooms where workers employed; investigations; regulations; violation of statute
Section 149:56 - Hours of work; posting notices; making up time lost by stoppage of machinery; employment by shifts; minors employed on farms
Section 149:57 - Employment in violation of statute
Section 149:58 - Elevator operators
Section 149:60 - Children under sixteen in general; school hours; night work; plays or musical comedies; fashion shows; hospitals
Section 149:61 - Minors under sixteen; particular employments
Section 149:62 - Minors under eighteen
Section 149:62A - Employment of vocational agricultural students
Section 149:63 - Dangerous or injurious employment of minors; hearing and determination
Section 149:64 - Employment of minors where liquor sold; taking or sending minors to immoral places
Section 149:65 - Hours and days of, and time for, work of minors under sixteen; time in continuation school or courses of instruction
Section 149:66 - Permissible work hours for children
Section 149:67 - Days and hours of work for boys or girls under eighteen
Section 149:68 - Time for work of minor messengers
Section 149:69 - Children as newspaper vendors; restrictions; penalty
Section 149:70 - Minors under sixteen as vendors and bootblacks, scavengers or other trade in street or public places; charge for badge for employment
Section 149:71 - Issuance of badges to minors; proof of age; grounds for refusal to issue
Section 149:72 - Badges; wearing; transfer; exhibition; regulations for issuing
Section 149:73 - Time for work of minors under sixteen engaged as vendors, bootblacks, scavengers or in any other trade in streets or public places
Section 149:74 - Posting of notice of hours of work of minor; employment at other times; changing terms
Section 149:75 - Forms of notice furnished by department
Section 149:76 - Inspectors; duties; prosecutions
Section 149:77 - Enforcement of statutes; supervisors of attendance; appointment; powers
Section 149:78 - Employment of, and permitting work by, minors contrary to statutes; reports of violations
Section 149:78A - Alternative civil penalties; appeal
Section 149:79 - Hindering inspectors, supervisors of attendance or department representatives; refusal of admittance or to give information
Section 149:80 - Furnishing minors with articles for sale in, and encouragement of, violation of statutes
Section 149:81 - Compelling or permitting minor to work in violation of statute; certification of false statement
Section 149:82 - Violation of statutes by persons issuing badges or enforcing statutes
Section 149:83 - Violation of statutes by minors; revocation of badge; refusal to surrender; working after revocation
Section 149:84 - Service of summons or warrants
Section 149:85 - Nonapplicability of statutes
Section 149:86 - Employment of children with permit; particular employments; filing, accessibility and return of, and failure to return, permit; list of employed children
Section 149:87 - Employment permits in general; approval; return of evidence of age; certificate by town clerk; notice of child's violation of statute
Section 149:88 - School record for employment permit; educational qualification; necessary school attendance
Section 149:89 - Employment permits; contents; signatures; fee; duplicate; records; papers furnished by department; explanatory matter
Section 149:90 - Violation of statute; forged evidence of age or birth; certification of false statements in, and alteration of, permit
Section 149:91 - Cessation of employment for non-attendance of continuation school; violation of statute
Section 149:92 - Visiting to ascertain employment of children; reporting illegal employment; complaint; violation of statute
Section 149:93 - Employment contrary to statute; taking minor to school; reporting evidence to court or justice; complaint; violation of statute
Section 149:94 - Employment permits, educational certificates and lists of employed minors produced for inspection; evidence of illegal employment
Section 149:95 - School attendance requirements
Section 149:95A - Educational certificates; exceptions
Section 149:96 - Manual training and industrial education; effect of statutes
Section 149:97 - [Repealed]
Section 149:98 - [Repealed]
Section 149:100 - Hours of work without interval for meal; duration; violation of statute
Section 149:101 - Nonapplicability of statute relating to mealtimes and intervals for meals
Section 149:102 - Labor during mealtime without knowledge of employer
Section 149:103 - Seats for employees; violation of statute
Section 149:104 - Children participants in public exhibitions; violation of statute
Section 149:105 - License for theatrical exhibitions or shows in which children are employed
Section 149:105A - Discrimination based on gender in payment of wages forbidden; enforcement; self-evaluation of payment practices
Section 149:105B - Violation of statutes; discharge or discrimination because of complaint, proceedings or testimony
Section 149:105C - Entry of premises, and investigation to determine compliance with statute
Section 149:105D - Parental leave
Section 149:105E - [Effective 10/29/2024] Submission of EEO reports
Section 149:105F - [Effective 10/29/2025] Salary range transparency
Section 149:106 - Drinking water; violation of statute; coverage of term "industrial establishments"
Section 149:107 - Water for humidifying purposes; violation of statute
Section 149:108 - Thermometers for humidity and temperature; regulations; place; reading; record
Section 149:109 - Nonapplicability of statute relating to thermometers; hygrometers; psychrometers; records
Section 149:110 - Relative humidity limits
Section 149:111 - Sources of water for humidifying purposes; clean air ducts
Section 149:112 - Failure to comply with statutes after request
Section 149:113 - Light, ventilation, cleanliness, sanitation and heat in establishments
Section 149:114 - Investigations and suggestions relative to eyes and vision
Section 149:115 - Devices and means to prevent injury to eyes; order; compliance; violation of statute
Section 149:116 - Investigations as to light; notice to change; failure to comply with order
Section 149:117 - Ventilation
Section 149:118 - Means to diminish inhalation of dust
Section 149:119 - Hoods or hoppers and suction pipes for emery or buffing wheels or belts
Section 149:120 - Form and place of hoods or hoppers; size and speed of blowers; approval by attorney general
Section 149:121 - Nonapplicability of statutes relating to emery and buffing machinery
Section 149:122 - Violation of statutes relating to ventilation, dust and emery and buffing machinery
Section 149:123 - Inspections relative to apparatus for emery and buffing machinery; complaint; prosecution
Section 149:124 - Communication between engineer's room and machinery room
Section 149:125 - Violation of statute relating to communication
Section 149:126 - Fastening doors during business hours; violation of statute
Section 149:127 - Guards for, and cleaning of, machinery; disconnection and removal of safety devices
Section 149:128 - Traversing carriage of a self-acting mule traveling close to fixed structure
Section 149:129 - Safeguards for hoistways, hatchways and well holes; closing trapdoors
Section 149:129A - Shoring trenches for local governments; graves excepted
Section 149:129B - Stilts; penalty for requiring or knowingly permitting use in construction
Section 149:129C - Installation or repair of live electric wires or electrical equipment; assistance; safety equipment; penalty
Section 149:129D - Riding in man-basket carried by hoisting machinery for bungee jumping or other safety approved activity
Section 149:130 - Explosives or inflammable materials; storage and use near egress
Section 149:131 - Guards for loom shuttles; violation of statute
Section 149:132 - Suction shuttles; shuttle or thread touching lips; violation of statute
Section 149:133 - Water closets, toilets and washing facilities; regulations; definitions of "industrial establishments" and "railroad establishments"
Section 149:134 - Necessary changes; action for proportion of expense
Section 149:135 - Prosecutions; necessity of neglect to make changes; notice; liability of corporate officer
Section 149:136 - Violation of public health laws; notice to town board of health; enforcement
Section 149:137 - Foundry toilet rooms and water closets; failure to comply with statute
Section 149:138 - Destruction of toilet appliances
Section 149:139 - Lockers and clothes receptacles of employees; violation of statute
Section 149:141 - Medical and surgical chests; accommodations for treatment of injured or ill persons; facilities for heating food; violation of statute
Section 149:141A - Lifting heavy objects in textile factories
Section 149:142 - Sanitary material for cleaning printing presses
Section 149:142A - Marked receptacles for substances hazardous to health
Section 149:142B - Marked receptacles for materials containing substances hazardous to health
Section 149:142C - Markings; clear and conspicuous; size; place
Section 149:142D - Receptacles exempt from marking requirements
Section 149:142E - Reports concerning material hazardous to health
Section 149:142F - Violation of statutes and regulations; failure to mark receptacles; removal or defacement of marks
Section 149:142G - Enforcement of statutes and regulations
Section 149:143 - Definitions for secs. 143 to 147H
Section 149:143A - Protection from undue competition and of health and well-being of workers
Section 149:144 - Unlawful industrial homework
Section 149:145 - Investigation of industries; order declaring industrial homework unlawful
Section 149:146 - Hearing preceding order; notice; place; effective date of order
Section 149:146A - Distribution of materials and articles; necessity of place of employment in commonwealth
Section 149:147 - Employer's permit; person to whom materials or articles may be delivered; effect of strike; payment of fees into treasury
Section 149:147A - Homeworker's certificate; place of work; work performed by others; qualifications of applicant and home; strike against employer
Section 149:147B - Employer's name and address affixed to articles or container of goods delivered for homework
Section 149:147C - Work in violation of statutes; removal, retention and disposition of articles; notice
Section 149:147D - Record of homeworkers and work
Section 149:147E - Regulations; violations; inspections and investigations
Section 149:147F - Attendance of witnesses and production of books and papers; summons and court order; fees; oaths; depositions
Section 149:147G - Additional penalties
Section 149:147H - Educational and philanthropic organizations; homework performed under supervision of commission for the blind
Section 149:148 - Payment of wages; commissions; exemption by contract; persons deemed employers; provision for cashing check or draft; violation of statute
Section 149:148A - Employees seeking rights under provisions of this chapter; discharge or discrimination; punishment
Section 149:148B - Persons performing service not authorized under this chapter deemed employees; exception
Section 149:148C - [Effective Until 11/21/2024] Paid sick days
Section 149:148C - [Effective 11/21/2024] Paid sick days
Section 149:148D - Multilingual outreach program to educate about availability of earned sick time
Section 149:149 - Summons and warrant for violations of sec. 148
Section 149:150 - Complaint for violation of certain sections; defenses; payment after complaint; assignments; loan of wages to employer; civil action
Section 149:150A - Notification of deductions or contributions
Section 149:150B - Fees or assessments other than those chargeable under union constitution and by-laws
Section 149:150C - Improper expenditure of withholdings or deductions from wages; penalties
Section 149:151 - Payment on pay day before close of working hours
Section 149:152 - Deductions for coming late to work
Section 149:152A - Payment to, or retention by, employer of tips to employees; contract for payment
Section 149:153 - Grading work of weavers; imperfections affecting wages; conditions precedent to fines
Section 149:154 - Employer's fine upon weaver for imperfections; violations of statutes
Section 149:155 - Specifications as to work and wages for weavers, frame tenders, warpers, web drawers and operatives paid by the pound
Section 149:156 - Specifications and tickets; posting and attaching; contents; pick clocks; excess of maximum lengths; violation of statute
Section 149:157 - Violation of sec. 155; interference with inspectors
Section 149:157A - Employees paid by piece; tickets stating basis of remuneration; posting statement of amount of pay earned
Section 149:158 - Stopped machinery; deductions from wages; making up lost time; penalty
Section 149:158A - Work without compensation
Section 149:159 - Discharge of employee without notice
Section 149:159A - [Repealed]
Section 149:159B - Reimbursement of expenses for medical examinations
Section 149:159C - Staffing agencies; notice concerning employee's assignment; fees prohibited; transportation services; prohibited activities
Section 149:160 - [Repealed]
Section 149:161 - [Repealed]
Section 149:162 - [Repealed]
Section 149:163 - [Repealed]
Section 149:164 - [Repealed]
Section 149:165 - [Repealed]
Section 149:166 - [Repealed]
Section 149:167 - [Repealed]
Section 149:168 - [Repealed]
Section 149:168A - [Repealed]
Section 149:173 - Destruction or sale of records and papers
Section 149:175 - Bells, whistles and gongs
Section 149:176 - Non-resident as special police officer
Section 149:177 - Police assistance in protecting property; non-residents assisting with arms; liability in damages
Section 149:177A - Contract exempting employer from liability to employee
Section 149:177B - Volunteer emergency responders; responding to emergencies; discharge from other employment
Section 149:178 - Leave of absence from work for voting
Section 149:178A - Payment of wages of intestate employee; officer or employee of commonwealth or subdivision
Section 149:178B - Deductions from salary for certain financial institutions; credit union bonds; withdrawal of authorization by employee; attachment or execution; pension money paid to credit unions; written authorization
Section 149:178C - Sum owed estate of officer or employee of political subdivisions paid to husband, widow or next of kin
Section 149:178D - [Repealed]
Section 149:178E - Group insurance; disposition of dividends
Section 149:178O - Group insurance termination; notice of date to employee
Section 149:179 - Placards posted to inform employees
Section 149:179A - Preference to citizens in awarding public work contracts; violation of statute
Section 149:179B - Notice to commissioner of commencement or change of location of business; violation of statute
Section 149:179C - Collective bargaining agreements; successor clauses
Section 149:180 - Violation of statutes with no specific penalty
Section 149:180A - Violation of closing laws
Section 149:181 - Retirement or health and welfare funds; failure of employer to make payments
Section 149:182 - Standards of corporate behavior; companies financed with assistance of quasi-public agencies
Section 149:183 - Severance pay upon termination following transfer of control of employer; definitions
Section 149:184 - Severance pay following transfer of control or attempted transfer of control of registered corporation; definitions
Section 149:185 - Retaliation against employees for reporting of violations of law or risks to public health, safety or the environment; remedies
Section 149:186 - Broadcasting industry; noncomplete agreements
Section 149:187 - Health care providers; protection from retaliatory action by health care facilities
Section 149:188 - [Repealed]
Section 149:189 - Employer medical assistance contribution
Section 149:189A - [Repealed]
Section 149:190 - Domestic workers; rights relating to pay and other terms or conditions of employment
Section 149:191 - Sexual harassment of and conduct constituting unlawful discriminatory practice against domestic workers; enforcement
Section 149:192 - Definitions for secs. 193 to 203
Section 149:193 - Collective bargaining agreements
Section 149:194 - Professional employer agreements
Section 149:195 - Determination of tax credits and other economic incentives
Section 149:196 - Registration required
Section 149:197 - Rights of clients
Section 149:198 - Tax assessments
Section 149:199 - Workers' compensation
Section 149:200 - Covered employees considered employees of client
Section 149:201 - Employee count to include all of client company's employees
Section 149:202 - Offering of or providing of professional employer services, use of names PEO, professional employer organization, etc., without registration
Section 149:203 - Wages