Economist cautions against minimum wage bill.

Rep. Roberto López Román

By THE STAR STAFF

New Progressive Party Rep. Roberto López Román has filed House Bill 1115, which proposes eliminating the Minimum Wage Evaluation Commission, but the labor sector representative on the panel, economist Iyari Ríos González, cautioned against the risks of the measure.

Ríos noted that the bill aims to dissolve the wage-evaluation committee at a time when it is actively investigating potential minimum wage increases for agricultural, tax-exempt and tipped workers. The measure would give the Legislature the power to approve hikes to the minimum wage. 

The economist stated that more than 200,000 private-sector workers in Puerto Rico earn the minimum wage, accounting for about one-third of the workforce.

He pointed out that the Minimum Wage Evaluation Commission is currently conducting studies as required by Law 47 of 2021, which mandates a review of the minimum wage every two years.

The commission is also evaluating decrees for exempt agricultural and tipped employees. Ríos noted that the bill, influenced by lobbying from business associations, is being introduced while those studies are underway.

The economist said the bill’s intent is to freeze the minimum wage, adding that arguments supporting the bill lack empirical evidence.

Ríos recalled that similar concerns were raised before Law 47 was enacted, predicting economic crisis and business closures, yet the economy has grown steadily since the law’s passage in 2021. He said he requested to participate in the hearing on the bill three times but received no response. The measure was approved without public hearings or input from the commission.