Puerto Rico ( PR ) Wage and Hour Laws

Puerto Rico (PR) wage and hour laws are primarily based on that of the United States government. This is true even though Puerto Rico is not officially a state of the United States, because United States owns this Island

Puerto Rico’s minimum wage is currently $5.15 per hour, which is the same wage requirement set by the Fair Labor Standard Act (FSLA) of the United States government. There is some talk to raise the current minimum wage prescribed by the United States government to $7.25 per hour. This could affect the island of Puerto Rico, who still pays most of their workers the current U.S. minimum wage rate.

Puerto Rico employees are only required to give a 30 minute break after five hours worth of work to those aged 17 and younger. Federal laws, not Puerto Rico (PR) wage and hour laws, have provisions regarding the breaks given to those over 17. In addition, Puerto Rico follows the federal standard for breaks given to workers 18 and over.

According to federal law, Puerto Rico employers who give break that are 20 minutes or longer must pay for that time. If employers give meal breaks, which are usually 30 minutes or longer, those breaks do not have to be paid for by the employer if the employee is free from all duties. No Puerto Rico (PR) wage and hour laws exist that address the issue of breaks, so this island follows the standard of the U.S. government.

Overtime must be paid to employees who work more than 40 hours within a seven day work week. Employees must be paid one and a half times the regular pay for those overtime hours worked. Employees in Puerto Rico that are not required to be paid overtime include certain agricultural workers, as well as administrative, professional, and executive employees.

In addition, Puerto Rico (PR) wage and hour laws adopt federal standards regarding what counts as hours worked for overtime. Paid hours such as holiday time, sick leave, vacation days, or time off are not counted as actual hours worked. Therefore, those hours do not count towards overtime pay.

Puerto Rico (PR) wage and hour laws are primarily adaptations of federal wage and hour laws. These laws were created to help improve working conditions within the United States, including those of the Island of Puerto Rico.