Each contractor and subcontractor performing work for a public utility district or a local utility district within a public utility district shall pay or cause to be paid to its employees on the work or under the contract or subcontract, not less than the minimum scale fixed by the resolution of the commission prior to the notice and call for bids on the work. The commission, in fixing the minimum scale of wages, shall fix them as nearly as possible to the current prevailing wages within the district for work of like character.