; (III) such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to effectuate the purposes of these sections, including without limitation employment, reinstatement, promotion, and the payment of wages lost and an additional equal amount as liquidated damages. (ii) Private right An action to recover the liability prescribed in clause (i) may be maintained against any employer (including a public agency) in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction by any one or more employees for and in behalf of themself, themselves and other employees similarly situated. The court in such action shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff or plaintiffs, allow a reasonable attorney’s fee to be paid by the defendant, and costs of the action. (iii) Enforcement by the Secretary The Secretary may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover damages described in clause (i). (B) Whistleblower protections It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any employee because such employee has filed any complaint or instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under or related to this chapter, or has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding, or has served or is about to serve on an industry committee. (C) Joint and several liability Each entity, including grantees, contractors and subcontractors, will be joint and severally liable for all violations of minimum labor standards under this title, regardless of current regulations and court decisions related to standards for joint employment. It shall not be a defense that the work was subcontracted. (D) Health insurance requirement In the case of an absence of a collective bargaining agreement, the minimum health insurance requirement for workers under this title is fully employer-paid health insurance coverage that at least meets the level of a Silver plan as defined by the Affordable Care Act. (E) Leave provisions Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and family leave in an