October 4, 2022 Governor Pierluisi signed into Law, Act 82-2022, which amends Puerto Rico’s sexual harassment law. Act 82 expands coverage to interns and requires employers to adopt a protocol to investigate sexual harassment allegations. Employers may adopt a model protocol to be created by the Puerto Rico Labor Department or use their own. The […]
Continue readingMore TagNew Federal Statute Imposes Additional Requirements on Ocean Carriers, Ports, Terminal Operators and Chassis Owners
July 12, 2022 With a stated long term policy goal of solving problems with port congestion, shipping costs and extending regulatory oversight to international ocean carriers, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 came into effect on June 16. The statute prohibits certain acts by ocean common carriers and marine terminal operators. The intention is […]
Continue readingMore TagGovernor of Puerto Rico Approves Amendments to Puerto Rico Labor Laws
June 21, 2022 2017 was a key year for employers in Puerto Rico with the enactment of a major labor reform known as the Labor Transformation and Flexibility Act of 2017. On June 20, 2022, five years later, Governor Pedro Pierluisi approved the controversial Act 41-2022, reverting and repealing many of the changes introduced in […]
Continue readingMore TagPuerto Rico Department of Labor Issues Guidelines on New Workplace Harassment Law
February 10, 2021 On February 3, 2021, the Puerto Rico Department of Labor (“PR DOL”) issued the long-awaited Private Sector Workplace Harassment Guidelines (“Guidelines”). The Guidelines summarize and underscore many requirements contained in Act No. 90-2020, Law to Prohibit and Prevent Workplace Harassment (“Act 90”). Act 90 defines “workplace harassment” as ill-intended, unwanted, repetitive, and […]
Continue readingMore TagCourt Expands LGBTQ Employment Protections
June 2020 (rev. 02/2021) On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) issued its ruling on Bostock v. Clayton County, 509 U.S. ___ (2020) establishing an unprecedented protection for LGBTQ people in the workplace by expanding the definition of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The employment protection states […]
Continue readingMore TagUS Coast Guard Issues New Marine Safety Information Bulletin Enforcing Presidential Executive Order and Centers of Disease Control’s Order Requiring Masks To Be Worn On All Public Maritime Vessels, Including Ferries
April 19, 2021 On February 1, 2021, the Commandant of the US Coast Guard (“USCG”) issued Marine Safety Information Bulletin Number 02-21, (“MSIB 02-21”) enforcing Presidential Executive Order 13998 and Centers of Disease Control’s Order “Requiring Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and Transportation Hubs.” Bulletin 02-21 requires persons to use face masks on board of commercial […]
Continue readingMore TagReturning to the Workplace – Developing COVID-19 Protocols
Returning to Workplaces COVID-19 Protocols
Continue readingMore TagPuerto Rico Minimum Wage, Vacation, and Sick Leave Act Amended by New Law No. 37-2020
Memo Law 37-2020
Continue readingMore TagRECENT COVID-19 LAWS AND REGULATION
Memo_COVID Regulation
Continue readingMore TagSummary of COVID-19 – Maritime Operations
While Puerto Rico is under an island-wide lockdown from March 16 to April 12, 2020 (Governor of Puerto Rico Executive Order 23-20/March 15, 2020, as amended), which requires all persons but those providing essential services to remain at home, the seaports remain open. However, it is necessary to mention that, as a United States territory, […]
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