Vermont Construction Company, based in Colchester and active on various projects statewide, has pledged its participation in a new workers' rights initiative. The program, a first for Vermont, is worker-driven and focuses on upholding human rights in the construction industry.

Developed in collaboration with Migrant Justice, a Vermont-based immigrant worker advocacy group, and the Minnesota-based Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council, the program aims to address issues like wage theft, physical and sexual abuse, and unsafe working and living conditions.

Migrant Justice confirmed that Vermont Construction Company initially approached them in December.

This was the same month that VTDigger reported violations at the company’s Colchester properties, which were found to have "grossly hazardous" and "perilous" living conditions. Inspection reports noted issues such as overcrowded rooms, visible mold, and missing fire safety equipment like extinguishers and detectors.

At a press event Tuesday, held in one of the Colchester buildings in question, Vermont Construction Company did not link these violations to their engagement with Migrant Justice.

Instead, company co-founder David Richards stated that joining the workers’ rights program aligns with their business goals.

“We're a really fast-growing company, we’re quickly becoming one of the biggest ones, and we rely heavily on immigrant labor,” Richards explained. “I think because we're young and successful, we have a lot of advantages in taking on a program like this and proving to our partners in the industry that it is feasible.”

Local construction worker José Ignacio voiced his approval of Vermont Construction Company’s involvement.

“We know that someday soon we will see a new day in the construction,” Ignacio said.

Speaking in Spanish, with translation by Migrant Justice organizer Will Lambek, Ignacio shared that as Vermont’s construction industry grows, so does the Latino immigrant workforce.

“A couple years ago, almost all of us were working on dairy farms, but you see that with the growing construction industry — and also opportunities in other sectors like restaurants and cleaning — we're expanding,” Ignacio noted.

As more Latino immigrants seek housing beyond dairy farms, Ignacio pointed out that many are facing difficulties with affordability, particularly in construction where wage theft is a concern.

“We have to work together and get creative to find suitable housing to be able to cover the cost of rent and utilities and internet and all the associated costs,” Ignacio remarked. “We have to double or triple up in a room.”

However, he remained optimistic: “Just like we know that the community is facing challenges, we know that the community is capable of creating solutions.”

This worker-driven social responsibility program will establish housing standards for subcontractors, ensuring that workers have access to clean, compliant housing options.

The program’s code of conduct, created by the Building Dignity and Respect Standards Council (BDC), includes provisions for voluntary housing for workers that meets regulatory standards. The approach mirrors similar initiatives in Vermont’s dairy industry, where Migrant Justice’s Milk With Dignity Standards Council holds dairy farms accountable for workers’ rights.

Migrant Justice will collaborate with BDC to adapt the program to Vermont’s construction sector.

Vermont Construction Company is the first to sign on to the program, with Richards estimating that it will benefit hundreds of immigrant workers during peak seasons.

“We probably work with about 20 subcontractors, and between them, they probably have about 250 guys that end up on our projects,” he said.

Richards also emphasized the importance of migrant workers to the state's construction industry.

“The truth is, Vermont will not solve its housing crisis without migrant workers,” he asserted. “These guys work their asses off, and they deserve to live well in Vermont.”

José Ignacio echoed his sentiment.

“Immigrants, Latinos, we are part of this state's workforce — and part of Vermont's future,” Ignacio stated.

The program is expected to be operational in the coming months.