Representative Joel Franqui Atiles will again present the measure that seeks to increase the minimum wage in Puerto Rico and that would take effect from next June.
Franqui Atiles recalled that last year the House passed the bill of his authorship for these purposes, and the same was sent to the Senate for approval. The measure, which went to public hearings and received amendments after its evaluation and analysis, was in the process of the last days of Session.
The representative explained that the House 425 Project seeks to increase the minimum wage starting at $ 8.50 an hour from July 2021 to all workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, and has an automatic increase every three years according to the “Consumer Price Index” published by the Planning Board.
“This measure includes the recommendations we received and the amendments included in the previous draft that we present. We should not wait for the creation of a committee that will evaluate the feasibility of an increase in the minimum wage in Puerto Rico. Therefore the statute recommends that the increase be gradual or staggered so as not to harm the operation of medium and small businesses that have been affected by the COVID 19. pandemic. A drastic and staggering increase could cause up to closure of these shops, “said Franqui Atiles.
“That’s why the measure suggests that the first increase be $ 8.50 an hour, and could start up to $ 9.00 per hour. If a federal minimum wage higher than the state minimum wage is approved, the federal one will prevail.” , clarified the legislator.
As set out in the bill, on the island more than 300,000 people hold a job subject to the minimum wage of $ 7.25 an hour, which equates to an annual wage of $ 15,080 without the established discounts. “It is necessary and fair to increase the minimum wage to ensure that all Puerto Ricans have a better quality of life. We know that with $ 8.50 or $ 9.00 an hour, full justice is not done to workers, but we need to start to act in this direction. That is why this measure establishes an automatic stepped increase “, the representative emphasized.
Unlike Puerto Rico, the minimum wage continues to rise in states like Oregon ($ 9.10), California ($ 9.00), New Jersey ($ 8.25), Washington ($ 9.32), Vermont ($ 8.73), among many others.
The measure also states that the Secretary of Economic Development in conjunction with the Department of Labor and Human Resources could exempt a particular industry from the increase in the minimum wage if it is shown that the economic impact is of such magnitude that it justifies excluding the its implementation.