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Puerto Rico Employee Rights

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Breastfeeding at Work Redefined: Puerto Rico’s New Code Ushers in Major Changes

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Puerto Rico has enacted a groundbreaking Lactation/Breastfeeding Code that consolidates in one statute the rights of breastfeeding employees and the responsibilities of employers across the Island. Signed into law on...more

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Puerto Rico Enacts New Lactation Code

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On August 1, 2025, Governor Jennifer González signed Act 87-2025, titled, “Puerto Rico Lactation Code” (“Code” or “Act 87-2025”). The Code compiles all previously enacted breastfeeding-related laws into one (i.e.,...more

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Puerto Rico Supreme Court Reaffirms Importance of Just Cause for Employee Terminations

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The Puerto Rico Supreme Court recently issued a decision reaffirming the importance of just cause for employment terminations in Puerto Rico. Méndez Ruiz v. Techno Plastics Industries, Inc., No. 2025 TSPR 68 (June 26, 2025)....more

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Puerto Rico Prohibits Discrimination Against Breastfeeding Mothers in the Workplace

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Puerto Rico Governor Jeniffer González has signed Act No. 29-2025 into law, modifying the Act to Regulate the Breastfeeding or Breast Milk Extraction Period, as amended (“Act 427-2000”), which provides certain nursing...more

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Puerto Rico New Act 29-2025: Essential Employer Obligations for Breastfeeding/Pumping Activities

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On June 23, 2025, Governor Jennifer González signed Act 29-2025, amending Puerto Rico’s Act 427-2000, “Act to Regulate Breastfeeding and Breast Milk Extraction Periods,” and strengthening protections for nursing employees....more

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Puerto Rico Supreme Court Clarifies Limits for Unjustified Dismissal Under the Workers' Compensation Act

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On June 26, 2025, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court (PRSC) issued an opinion in Méndez Ruiz v. Techno Plastics Industries, Inc., 216 D.P.R. ____, 2025 TSPR 68 (2025), determining whether the defendant had “just cause” under...more

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Puerto Rico Supreme Court: State Courts Lack Jurisdiction Over Labor Cases Governed by the NLRA

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The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico recently issued an important decision limiting the role of Puerto Rico’s courts in labor complaints that involve conduct governed by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). In Rodríguez...more

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PR Supreme Court’s Rejection of Agency Deference Gives Employers New Tools

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The Puerto Rico Supreme Court has issued a landmark decision limiting the deference that Puerto Rico courts owe to administrative agencies’ legal conclusions. The ruling recalibrates the balance of power between courts and...more

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Puerto Rico High Court Confirms Employers Need to Check NLRA Preemption of Local Employment Law Claims

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The Puerto Rico Supreme Court has reaffirmed that Puerto Rico courts lack subject-matter jurisdiction over employment claims that arguably involve unfair labor practices covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). ...more

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Election 2024: Employer Obligations Under Puerto Rico’s General Election Day Paid Leave Law

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Puerto Rico’s General Election Day will take place Nov. 5, 2024. Employers may operate on Election Day during their regular business hours, without any restrictions. However, employers should plan for employees taking time...more

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Sports-Related Employment Law Updates in Puerto Rico

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A new law in Puerto Rico provides several pay and anti-discrimination protections for athletes on account of their pregnancies. A separate sports-related employment law extends leave protections for eligible athletes, coaches...more

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New Puerto Rico Military Code: What Puerto Rico Employers Should Know

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On August 8, 2023, Puerto Rico’s government enacted Act No. 88-2023, known as the “Puerto Rican Military Code of the 21st Century” (“Military Code”). This new law supersedes the previously enacted Military Code of Puerto Rico...more

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

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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

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

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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

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Got the Green Light: New Puerto Rico Law Expands Employment Protections for Registered and Licensed Medical Cannabis Patients

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On July 29, 2021, Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi signed into law Act No. 15-2021 (Act 15). Act 15 amends Act No. 42 of July 9, 2017, also known as the Act to Manage the Study, Development and Research of Cannabis for...more

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Puerto Rico Issues Guidance For Nursing Rooms In Workplace

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The Puerto Rico Women’s Advocate Office has published Guidelines for the Establishment of Nursing Rooms with the purpose of ensuring uniformity and setting forth all aspects employers should consider when establishing a...more

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The Women’s Advocate Office of Puerto Rico Publishes Guidelines on Lactation Room Standards

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On February 11, 2021, the Women’s Advocate Office (WAO) published Guidelines on the Acclimatization of Lactation Rooms (Guidelines), which apply to both public- and private-sector employers....more

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

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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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Puerto Rico’s New Electoral Code Creates Two Hours of Paid Voting Leave

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Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez recently signed into law Puerto Rico’s new Electoral Code, Act No. 58 of June 20, 2020 (Act No. 54-2020). The Electoral Code includes noteworthy changes to employees’ voting rights....more

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Puerto Rico Becomes First Jurisdiction To Adopt Law Against Workplace Bullying

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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

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Puerto Rico’s Anti-Bullying Bill Closer To Enactment

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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

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Puerto Rico Working Women’s Bill of Rights Includes New Posting Requirement

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On January 3, 2020, Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez signed Law No. 9-2020 (“Act 9” or “the Act”), known as the Working Women’s Bill of Rights. While the Act expressly states that it was enacted for informational purposes...more

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Puerto Rico Enacts Law Providing Unpaid Leave and Reasonable Accommodation for Victims of Abuse

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On August 1, 2019, just a day prior to his resignation as Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló signed into law Act No. 83 of August 1, 2019 (“Act 83” or “the Act”), a very detailed leave statute applicable to public and...more

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New Act in Puerto Rico Establishes a Special Paid Leave for Employees Suffering from Catastrophic Illnesses

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The Governor of Puerto Rico recently signed into law Act No. 28 (“Act 28”), entitling all employees, including temporary employees, to take up to six days of paid leave per year if they suffer from a “catastrophic illness.”...more

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Puerto Rico Employers Brace for New Right to Religious Freedom Accommodation Requests

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Earlier this year, the Governor of Puerto Rico signed into law the Labor Transformation and Flexibility Act (“the Act”). While the Act makes substantial changes to virtually all existing Puerto Rico employment laws, it also...more

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