Executive order to boost gov’t recruitment of individuals with functional diversity

Governor Pedro Pierluisi said Thursday’s signing of the executive order “means that as a government we are going to extend the Infinite Talent initiative to all agencies of the executive branch, promoting training workshops, services and other aid available from the government to citizens with functional diversity, so that those who are skilled achieve their employability in the workplace.”

By The Star Staff

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia and Labor and Human Resources (DTRH by its Spanish initials) Secretary Gabriel Maldonado-González signed Executive Order 2024-003 on Thursday, making it possible to integrate more people with functional diversity into the government, with the purpose of promoting inclusion and raising awareness in society about the importance of providing equal opportunities and support to this population.

“In my administration we affirm that functional diversity is not a limitation, but simply a difference” the governor said. “Each individual, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities, possesses a unique abundance of talents and perspectives that greatly enrich any work team. By integrating people with functional diversity, we are promoting equity and inclusion, and at the same time we are taking advantage of the diversity of skills and experiences to drive innovation and success.”

Pierluisi added that “putting action where we have put the word, today I will be signing a new executive order to create an inclusive government with infinite talents.”

“This means that as a government we are going to extend the Infinite Talent initiative to all agencies of the executive branch, promoting training workshops, services and other aid available from the government to citizens with functional diversity, so that those who are skilled achieve their employability in the workplace,” he said.

The executive order establishes that government agencies must serve as a workshop at the request of the DTRH to provide work experiences. It should be noted that the DTRH will have to conduct a review of its employment programs to guarantee that they serve as a first work experience for the population with functional diversity, whether in the public or private sector.

The Labor secretary highlighted that, to date, through Infinite Talent (Talento Infinito), 195 talents with dysfunctional diversity, 231 employers and 78 service providers have been recruited for the effort.

“We are very proud to be part of Infinite Talent, which is now transformed into a broad ecosystem of essential government services for thousands of people with functional diversity in Puerto Rico,” Maldonado-González said. “It is a public policy initiative aimed at building bridges of solidarity for a culture of inclusion and equity. Equally important is how this initiative allows us to continue strengthening the labor market in areas that are difficult to recruit. Without a doubt, it is a project which we seek to be a lasting one due to its great impact on a social, economic and labor level. We will continue to collaborate with the private sector, nonprofit organizations and other government agencies to identify opportunities and encourage more people to enter the workforce.”