On June 20, 2020, the Governor of Puerto Rico signed Act No. 58-2020, known as the “Puerto Rico Electoral Code of 2020” (“the Electoral Code”). In general terms, the Electoral Code establishes the new rules, regulations, and guidelines for the participation of the citizens of Puerto Rico in the electoral process. Section 5.1 of the … Continued

On September 11, 2020, Governor Vázquez signed Administrative Bulletin No. OE-2020-068 to order the Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (PRDOL) to disregard and abstain from charging employers’ Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) reserve account for the benefits paid for unemployment claims as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning on March … Continued

On August 20, 2020, the Governor of Puerto Rico signed Executive Order No. OE-2020-062 to implement additional restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 in Puerto Rico (OE-2020-062). As it pertains to employers, OE-2020-062 provides that employers must continue to comply with the Plan submitted to the PROSHA division of the Puerto Rico Department of … Continued

On August 7, 2020, Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez-Garced signed into law House Bill 306, known as the “Act to Prohibit and Prevent Workplace Harassment in Puerto Rico” (hereinafter “Act 90-2020 or “the Act”). House Bill 306, which faced staunch opposition from the private sector, was originally introduced in January of 2017, but had been … Continued

Newly released guidance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) addressed questions related to COVID-19 and the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act and other equal employment opportunity laws, which include the requirement for reasonable accommodation and non-discrimination based on disability, and rules about employer medical examinations and inquiries. In general terms, the … Continued

On April 9, 2020, Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced signed the H.B. 2428 into law as part of the Government’s response to the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) emergency. Law No. 37-2020 amends the Puerto Rico Minimum Salary, Vacations and Sick Leave Act (Law No. 180-1998) to provide a special emergency paid leave to eligible employees whenever a state … Continued

Yesterday, March 26th, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued additional guidance by way Questions & Answers and stating the DOL’s position with regards to an employer’s obligation to comply with the paid leave requirements set forth in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (hereinafter, the “FFCRA”), specifically paid medical leave under the Emergency Family and … Continued

As explained in our prior Newsletter, on March 18th President Donald J. Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (hereinafter, the “FFCRA”) that applies to private employers with less than 500 employees. On March 25th, the Department of Labor published the poster or notice that must be displayed by employers at their premises, as … Continued

President Trump signed Bill H.R. 6201 into law on March 18th, 2020 as part of the federal government’s response to the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) emergency. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (hereinafter, the “FFCRA”) will take effect no later than fifteen (15) days after its enactment and will remain in effect through December 31, 2020. As … Continued

Earlier this month, on January 3, 2020, the Governor of Puerto Rico signed Act No. 9-2020, known as the “Working Women’s Bill of Rights Act” (“the Act”). In general terms, the Act proposes to serve as a tool to educate working women about the different labor and employment laws enacted throughout the years in order … Continued