According to Puerto Rico Secretary of Labor Gabriel Maldonado, neither the Constitution of Puerto Rico nor Puerto Rico Act 379 imposes any limitations on employers requiring overtime work of employees beyond paying a specific...more
Puerto Rico’s minimum wage will increase to $10.50 per hour from $9.50 per hour effective July 1, 2024. This increase was finally approved by the Minimum Wage Review Commission on June 13, 2024. With limited exceptions, the...more
The “Law to Facilitate the Implementation of Remote Work in the Private Sector and to Incentivize the Establishment of Airline Home Bases in Puerto Rico” regulates the employment relation of employees who work remotely from...more
When the Puerto Rico Minimum Wage Act, Act No. 47-2021, went into effect, in addition to the three hourly rate increases set out in the law, a new Minimum Wage Review Board appointed by the governor was to periodically review...more
Less than a year after its enactment, a federal district court has declared null and void Puerto Rico Act 41-2022, a law that rolled back parts of the 2017 employment law reform. Financial Oversight and Management Board for...more
The Puerto Rico Supreme Court has confirmed that continued employment may be valid consent to mandatory employment arbitration agreements in a matter of first impression. Aponte et al. v. Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, LLC, CC...more
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi has expanded mandatory COVID-19 vaccination to additional private industries effective August 30, 2021.
Private Industries Covered-
Under Executive Order 2021-064 (EO), all...more
Puerto Rico has made COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for additional industries after Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi extended vaccination requirements for employees in the health and hospitality sectors beginning August 16, 2021....more
The Puerto Rico Department of Labor issued guidelines and a sample protocol early in 2021 for employers on Puerto Rico’s prohibition against workplace bullying, Act 90-2020. Employers have until August 2, 2021, to adopt,...more
Registered and authorized patients of medical cannabis in Puerto Rico are considered a protected category for purposes of all employment laws under an amendment to the “Act to Manage the Study, Development and Investigation...more
The days may be numbered for Puerto Rico’s 2017 employment reform law. Legislators in the House of Representatives have approved a bill that would repeal or modify parts of the current law.
Shortly after being sworn in,...more
The Puerto Rico Department of Labor (PRDOL) has issued Guidelines and a sample protocol for employers to follow in complying with Puerto Rico’s prohibition against workplace bullying, Act 90-2020.
Employers have until...more
Additional measures adopted by the Puerto Rico Department of Health to manage the COVID-19 pandemic include administrative fines for noncompliance.
Regulation No. 9210 applies to natural persons (visitors and residents),...more
Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez has signed Executive Order 2020-062 (EO) to extend most of the prior COVID-19 pandemic limitations and restrictions, institute important additional restrictions, set a mandatory Sunday...more
On August 8, 2020, Wanda Vázquez Garced signed into law an amendment to the Puerto Rico Working Mothers Act. Under the amendment, adoption leave benefits were extended to female employees adopting minors 6 years old or older....more
In an unprecedented move and without taking into consideration the mass opposition from the private sector, on August 7, 2020, the Governor of Puerto Rico signed into law House Bill 306 to prohibit workplace bullying. This...more
Puerto Rico may become the first jurisdiction to adopt law against workplace bullying.
The Puerto Rico Legislature has considered bills on anti-bullying requirements in the workplace over the last decade. None of these...more
The Puerto Rico Senate has approved unanimously Senate Bill No. 1577 (SB 1577), which seeks to amend Section 9 of Puerto Rico Act No. 44 of July 2, 1985, known as the “Law Prohibiting Discrimination Against Disabled Persons,”...more
On May 1, the Governor of Puerto Rico issued Executive Order 2020-038 (the Order) effectively extending the existing lockdown order but expanding the scope of services and businesses exempt from limitations on business...more
Employers in Puerto Rico must provide a model notice to employees in the event of a layoff or reduction in working hours. The Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, Briseida Torres-Reyes, issued...more
Puerto Rico’s Law 37-2020 provides certain employees up to five days of paid leave once they exhaust other paid leave.
Law 37-2020 amends Puerto Rico Law 180-1998, which establishes paid sick and vacation leave benefits...more
In the wake of the Coronavirus/COVID-19, the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Labor (Secretary) announced today the availability of additional unemployment benefits in Puerto Rico for eligible employees, as well as...more
Following declaration of a state of emergency by Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on March 16, 2020, the Puerto Rico Senate has approved a bill addressing sick leave for private...more
On March 18, 2020, the Puerto Rico State Insurance Fund Corporation (PR-SIF) adopted additional measures for the benefit of employers in Puerto Rico due to the emergency caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The PR-SIF...more
The Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce has issued a clarification on the mandatory lockdown of non-essential commerce in response to employer appeals.
On the night of March 17, the Secretary of the...more