Today, Wednesday, the legislature approved the report of the conference committee that evaluated House Bill 338 to establish a minimum wage law in Puerto Rico, which means that From January 1, 2022, the first phase of the minimum wage increase will come into effect.
At the beginning of the year, the minimum wage will be increased to 8.50 bucks the hour; From October 1, 2022 to $9.00 an hour; And by October 1, 2023, it will be increased to $10.00 an hour.
“Today we affirm our commitment to achieving pay equity for our workers and ensuring better working conditions for our people. This is the result of an ongoing process of dialogue, collective action and consensus to make way for legislation that will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the country,” the representative said. Domingo Torres GarciaChairman of the Chamber’s Labor Affairs Committee.
the Bill House 338Puerto Rico’s state minimum wage is allowed to beat the federal minimum wage as long as it is higher. Likewise, it creates the Minimum Wage Assessment Committee, which will be attached to the Ministry of Labor and Human Resources.
President Rafael “Tatito” Hernández Montañez explained: “These increases will apply to all workers covered by the Federal Reasonable Labor Standards Act (in English, the Fair Labor Standards Act of June 25, 1938)”
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For his part, the head of the Labor Affairs Committee in the parliament said, “This committee has done an extraordinary job, and the results can be seen today by approving this legislation.” Likewise, he emphasized that contributions made by representatives and senators were translated into provisions in favor of workers only.
Torres García explained that under this legislation, Minimum Wage Assessment Commission, which will be an independent entity with expertise that will help enhance productivity and competitiveness in Puerto Rico’s labor sector. And
This will consist of two representatives of the workers; Two representatives of employer interests, an economist recommended by the University of Puerto Rico Department of Economics (UPR) and the Association of Economists; A labor economist recommended by the Labor Relations Institute for the UPR; A representative of the public interest, for a total of seven members.
“This is a good day for the country and a step forward in ensuring that our workers are just and adequately compensated for the work they perform on a daily basis. In the same way, it is a reaffirmation that when we work together, seek convergence and encourage participation, we achieve agreements that benefit all Puerto Ricans. Domingo Torres said.
The conference committee consisted of Chamber President and representatives Domingo Torres, Jose Rivera Madeira, Luis Raul Torres, Jesus Santa, Angel Matos, Hector y Ferrer, Carlos Mendes, Mariana Nogales, Lizzie J Burgos and Denis Márquez. ; Senate President and Senators Juan Zaragoza, Mariale Gonzalez, Javier Aponte and Gretchen Howe. Ramon Ruiz Neves, Joan Rodriguez, Maria de Lourdes Santiago, Ana Irma Rivera and Jose Vargas Vidot.