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With the New Year, Puerto Rico Enacts New Legislation Facilitating Remote Work and Providing Exemption to Airlines Opening...

In the summer of 2022, Puerto Rico enacted Act 52-2022, which amended the concept of “engaged in trade or business” under the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011 to address the pandemic-related issue of employees...more

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico Rules PR-DOL Christmas Bonus Exemption Decree Was Inapplicable to Unionized Employees

On June 30, 2023, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico issued an Opinion and Order interpreting an employer’s obligation to pay the Christmas Bonus to employees covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).  Writing for the...more

Nullified ab initio: What Employers in Puerto Rico Need to Know About the Decision to Nullify the New Labor Reform Bill (Act No....

For the past few years, Puerto Rico’s finances have been supervised by a board designated by the U.S. Government—the Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico (“FOMB”). Its role is to revise and approve the...more

Puerto Rico Governor Declares Monkeypox State of Emergency: Why Should Employers Take Note?

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Puerto Rico enacted Act No. 37-2020, which created a special five-day paid leave for non-exempt employees in the private sector. Act No. 37 amended the Puerto Rico Minimum Salary,...more

Hot off the Press: New Labor Reform Bill for Puerto Rico

On June 20, 2022, Governor Pedro Pierluisi signed into law Act No. 41-2022, instituting drastic changes to labor and employment laws in Puerto Rico and extending employment rights for employees in the private sector. In doing...more

Puerto Rico Supreme Court Favors Employers on Business Reorganization and Unjustified Dismissal

In a recent case issued by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico (“the Court”), the Court addressed the standard and level of proof that must be presented by employers when raising as an affirmative defense a corporate...more

Light at the End of the Tunnel: Puerto Rico Government Eliminates Most COVID-19 Restrictions

With COVID-19 positivity rates falling below 3.4%, on March 7, 2022, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order 2022-019 (EO), drastically changing previously issued COVID-19 measures and guidelines by...more

Booster Mandates for Puerto Rico Employees and Additional COVID-19 Measures

As COVID-19 positivity rates continue to decrease, on February 13, 2022, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued three news executive orders revising travelers’ declaration requirements, relaxing COVID-19 restrictions and...more

Littler Global Guide - Puerto Rico - Q4 2021

Governor Issues New Executive Order Providing for New Vaccination Mandates - New Order or Decree - On November 15, 2021, Puerto Rico’s Governor issued Executive Order No. 2021-075 (EO 2021-075), which integrates prior...more

Puerto Rico Imposes Additional COVID-19 Restrictions and Vaccine Booster Mandates on Private Sector Employers

In his most recent attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19, on January 13, 2022, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi once again issued back-to-back executive orders (EO) implementing additional COVID-19 restrictions and...more

Booster Mandate: Covered Employees in Puerto Rico Must Comply by January 31st

On December 31, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order No. 2021-87 (EO) requiring first responders and certain private sector personnel to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot in order to be...more

New Puerto Rico Executive Order Mandates Booster Shots for Health and Education Sectors

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi recently issued back-to-back executive orders (EO) regarding COVID-19. It appears that the third EO was stuck in holiday traffic. This latest EO, like her sisters, amends November’s...more

Puerto Rico Supreme Court Rules on Damages Calculations Involving Double Penalties and Alternate Income Streams

In Torres Rivera v. Econo, 2021 TSPR 150, 208 D.P.R. __ (Nov. 18, 2021), the Puerto Rico Supreme Court (“PRSC”) determined that when a plaintiff prevails in a discrimination lawsuit, any award of back pay (lost wages) to be...more

‘Tis the Season for Back-to-Back COVID-19 Related Executive Orders in Puerto Rico

In two days, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi issued back-to-back executive orders (EO) establishing greater restrictions on mass activities, food and drink establishments, and air passengers arriving on the Island....more

Puerto Rico Governor Issues New Executive Order Providing for New Vaccination Mandates

On November 15, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order No. 2021-075 (EO 2021-075), which integrates prior COVID-19-related orders still in effect and, notably, includes vaccine/testing requirements...more

Puerto Rico Governor Signs Law Raising Minimum Wage to $8.50 Per Hour Starting in 2022

On September 21, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi signed into law an Act that raises the hourly minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50. Prior to this increase, the minimum wage in Puerto Rico had not been modified since...more

Puerto Rico Government Issues New Vaccination Requirements for Additional Business Sectors

Given the recent increase in COVID-19 positivity rates in Puerto Rico, on Thursday, August 5, 2021, Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order No. 2020-062, adopting new vaccination measures for different sectors. ...more

The Puerto Rico Department of Health Implements Compulsory Vaccination for In-Person Educational Institutions

On July 22, 2021 the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDOH) issued Administrative Order No. 2021-509 (AO) providing that, in order to physically attend school, post-school educational institutions, or universities,...more

Puerto Rico Governor Issues Executive Order Relaxing COVID-19 Restrictions

On June 3, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Hon. Pedro Pierluisi issued Executive Order (EO) 2021-043 to further relax COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. The new EO will be in effect from June 7, 2021 until July 4, 2021. The...more

Quarantine and Isolation Orders in Puerto Rico’s Executive Orders from March 2020 to April 2021

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and as new information has become available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local governments have continuously revised their isolation and quarantine...more

Do Not Take a Shot in the Dark: Important Considerations for Puerto Rico Employers Eyeing Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Programs

Multiple states and jurisdictions are reporting a deadly winter spike of COVID-19 infections. An excess of 220,000 cases of COVID-19 were reported in early December, a dramatic increase from the 44,783 reported in October....more

Puerto Rico: A Testing Dilemma in Returning to Work Scenarios and the Governor’s Most Recent Executive Order

In conclusion, employers have multiple CDC-approved approaches to choose from when determining their return-to-work protocols. Employers opting for the test-based strategy are protected under the ADA so long as it is carried...more

Puerto Rico: Pandemic Assistance Packages and their Effect on Christmas Bonus Exemption for Private Employers

On November 16, 2020, the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (“PR DOL”) issued Circular Letter No. 2020-05, discussing considerations for private sector employers when requesting an exemption from paying the...more

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico Rules “Ex-Offender” is not a Protected Category

Article II, Section 1, of the Puerto Rico Constitution’s Bill of Rights prohibits "discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, birth, origin or social status, or political or religious ideas." In Garib Bazain v. Hospital...more

Puerto Rico Enacts Law Extending Maternity Leave to Mothers Adopting Children Ages Six and Older

On August 8, 2020, Puerto Rico Governor Hon. Wanda Vázquez Garced signed into law House Bill No. 2424 (“Bill No. 2424”), to amend the Puerto Rico Working Mothers Protection Act, otherwise known as Act 3 of March 13, 1942...more

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