On January 27, 2018, Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares signed into law Act No. 60-2018, to amend Article 6 of Act No. 180-1998, better known as the “Puerto Rico Minimum Wage, Vacation, and Sick Leave Act.” This recent amendment to Act 180 seeks to prohibit employers in the private-sector from considering employees’ justified sick leave absences … Continued

Puerto Rico is still trying to recover from the brutal passage of Hurricane Maria one (1) month ago. As a result of the devastation and lack of power and running water, private employers have temporarily ceased operations and others have by now resumed operations albeit on limited schedules and/or with a partial staff. In any … Continued

On May 3, 2017, the FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR PUERTO RICO (the “Oversight Board”) filed a petition requesting the protection of Title III of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (“PROMESA”) for the GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO (the “Petition”). More so, on May 5, 2017, the Oversight Board filed a … Continued

The Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (“Labor Department”) released regulations pertaining to an employer’s obligations and duties upon being notified by an employee or candidate for employment of a request to reasonably accommodate religious practices under the Workplace Flexibility Transformation Act, Act No. 4 of January 26, 2017 (“WFTA”)1. Relevant to these … Continued

On February 28, 2017, the Government of Puerto Rico presented to the Financial Oversight and Management Board or Puerto Rico (“Oversight Board”) a proposed Fiscal Plan for Puerto Rico (the “Proposed Plan”). The Proposed Plan indicates that it seeks to achieve fiscal solvency and long term economic growth. To achieve its objectives, the Proposed Plan … Continued

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that the maximum amount of wages in 2017 subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax (old age, survivor, and disability insurance) will rise from $118,500 to $127,200, an increase of more than 7%. Thus, the maximum OASDI (Social Security) tax payable by an employer in 2017 would be $7,886.40. … Continued

CLIENTS & FRIENDS TAX ALERT RETAIL & SERVICES MERCHANTS January 26, 2017 Earlier today, Governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares signed into law Bill 453, known as the Workplace Flexibility Transformation Act (“WFTA”). WFTA, which was approved by the Puerto Legislature on January 23rd, is the first key labor legislation of the incoming Administration and represents a major … Continued

CLIENTS & FRIENDS TAX ALERT June 16, 2015 I. Income Tax Provisions Articles 2 & 14 – Big Taxpayers A new definition of big taxpayers has been added to the Code to include: commercial banks or trust companies; private banks; brokerage houses; insurance companies; telecommunication entities; and entities with a volume of business of $50 … Continued

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT CLIENT ALERT June 3, 2015 On Monday, June 1st, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that under the disparate-treatment (intentional discrimination) provision of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an applicant (plaintiff) need only show that his or her need for religious accommodation was a motivating factor in the … Continued

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT CLIENT ALERT November 2014 A. Significant amendments to Puerto Rico’s anti-retaliation statute (“Act 115”) On September 19, 2014, Governor Alejandro García Padilla signed House Bill 1467 into law, creating Act No. 169 of September 29, 2014 (“Act 169”), which amends Puerto Rico’s anti-retaliation statute, Act No. 115 of December 20, 1991 (“Act … Continued