Bill stems from a Legal Aid Society request
Private‑sector employers in Puerto Rico could face a new labor mandate under legislation introduced in the Senate to establish up to six days of paid caregiving leave for workers responsible for minors, older adults, or people with disabilities.
Sen. Carmelo Ríos Santiago, vice president of the Senate, filed Senate Bill 1380 at the request of the Legal Aid Society, to amend the island’s Minimum Wage, Vacation and Sick Leave Act. The proposal, submitted at the request of Asistencia Legal Puerto Rico, seeks to address what policymakers describe as a growing workforce challenge: employees forced to reduce work hours or leave the labor market due to caregiving responsibilities.
Under the bill, eligible private-sector employees would accrue half a day of paid caregiving leave per month, up to a maximum of six days per year. The leave would be separate from sick and vacation leave and could be used for situations not tied to a medical condition—such as temporary school closures, the absence of a regular caregiver, or administrative or health-related tasks necessary for the well-being of the person being cared for. Unused days would not carry over to the following year and would not be paid upon separation from employment.
The legislation defines “caregiver” broadly to include full- and part-time private-sector employees—whether permanent or temporary—who provide caregiving for a minor, an older adult, or a person with disabilities, regardless of legal or familial ties. It also outlines “caregiving duties,” including supervision, transportation, assistance with daily activities, coordination of services, and accompanying dependents to school or administrative appointments.
The bill’s sponsors argue that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural gaps in Puerto Rico’s caregiving system, forcing thousands—particularly women—to leave their jobs when schools and childcare centers closed. The measure cites data from the Asociación de Centros de Cuidado y Desarrollo del Niño (ASOCUIDA), which show that 60% of childcare centers have waiting lists and that 51% of municipalities lack sufficient childcare services to meet demand.
If enacted, the new leave requirement would increase employers’ compliance obligations at a time when many businesses are navigating tight labor markets, rising operating costs, and ongoing recruitment challenges. Supporters contend that the policy could improve workforce stability, reduce turnover among caregivers, and strengthen protections for vulnerable populations.
The bill was filed on June 30, the final day of the legislative session, and now awaits committee review.
