
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 5USC5341]

 
             TITLE 5--GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES
 
                           PART III--EMPLOYEES
 
                      Subpart D--Pay and Allowances
 
                    CHAPTER 53--PAY RATES AND SYSTEMS
 
                 SUBCHAPTER IV--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS
 
Sec. 5341. Policy

    It is the policy of Congress that rates of pay of prevailing rate 
employees be fixed and adjusted from time to time as nearly as is 
consistent with the public interest in accordance with prevailing rates 
and be based on principles that--
        (1) there will be equal pay for substantially equal work for all 
    prevailing rate employees who are working under similar conditions 
    of employment in all agencies within the same local wage area;
        (2) there will be relative differences in pay within a local 
    wage area when there are substantial or recognizable differences in 
    duties, responsibilities, and qualification requirements among 
    positions;
        (3) the level of rates of pay will be maintained in line with 
    prevailing levels for comparable work within a local wage area; and
        (4) the level of rates of pay will be maintained so as to 
    attract and retain qualified prevailing rate employees.

(Added Pub. L. 92-392, Sec. 1(a), Aug. 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 564.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 5341, Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 471; 
Pub. L. 90-83, Sec. 1(97), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 220; Pub. L. 90-560, 
Sec. 4, Oct. 12, 1968, 82 Stat. 997, provided prevailing rate system for 
trades and crafts and is covered by sections 5343(c), (d) and 5349(a) of 
this title.


                             Effective Date

    Section 15(a) of Pub. L. 92-392 provided that: ``The provisions of 
this Act [enacting this subchapter and section 5550 of this title, 
amending sections 2105, 5337, 5541, 5544, 5548, 6101, 7154, and 8704 of 
this title, repealing section 6102 of this title, and enacting 
provisions set out as notes under sections 5341 and 5343 of this title 
and sections 60a-1 and 60a-2 of Title 2, The Congress] are effective on 
the first day of the first applicable pay period which begins on or 
after the ninetieth day after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 
19, 1972], except that, in the case of those employees referred to in 
section 5342(a)(2)(B) and (C) of title 5, United States Code (as amended 
by the first section of this Act), such provisions are effective on the 
first day of the first applicable pay period which begins on or after 
the one hundred and eightieth day after such date of enactment or on 
such earlier date (not earlier than the ninetieth day after such date of 
enactment) as the Civil Service Commission may prescribe. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, section 5343(e)(1)(D) 
and (E) and (e)(2)(C), as enacted by the first section of this Act, 
shall not be effective until the first day of the first pay period 
commencing after (1) the date on which the President ceases to exercise 
his authority under the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 [formerly set 
out as a note under section 1904 of Title 12, Banks and Banking] to 
stabilize wages and salaries, or (2) April 30, 1973, whichever occurs 
first.''


                                 Repeals

    Section 13 of Pub. L. 92-392 provided that:
    ``(a) All laws or parts of laws inconsistent with this Act [see 
Effective Date note above] are hereby repealed to the extent of such 
inconsistency.
    ``(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not repeal or otherwise 
affect section 5102(d) of title 5, United States Code, section 305 of 
title 44 of such Code, or the provisions contained in section 180 of 
former title 31, United States Code.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 10 section 1602; title 41 
section 351.
