Employers in Puerto Rico Precluded from Using Credit Reports or Credit History for Employment Actions

New Legislation Enacted

Authors: Elizabeth Pérez Lleras, Capital Member and Ana Rivera Beltrán, Member - Littler Puerto Rico

On October 8, 2019, the Governor of Puerto Rico signed into law Act No. 150 of October 8, 2019, which prohibits employers from, among other actions, verifying or investigating credit history or credit reports concerning current employees or employment candidates, or from obtaining or ordering such reports from a credit agency. The Act, however, provides a list of exceptions to its coverage. When these exceptions apply, employers must obtain written consent from the employee or employment candidate in order to be able to request their credit history or report.