Labor Dept. offers support after Baxter layoffs in Guayama

By THE STAR STAFF

The island Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH by its initials in Spanish) has activated its services to assist workers laid off by Baxter Healthcare following the company’s recent reduction in staff at its Guayama facility.

Labor Secretary María del Pilar Vélez Casanova said the pharmaceutical manufacturer has not yet coordinated with the agency to provide support for the affected employees. Even so, she noted, DTRH personnel will reach out to the company to request collaboration and ensure workers can access available government programs.

“As a government, it is our commitment to support them by facilitating the Department’s resources, through which they can receive guidance and access programs that will help them move toward new employment opportunities,” Vélez Casanova said.

She urged displaced workers to file their initial unemployment insurance claims through the government portal trabajo.pr.gov, adding that eligible individuals may receive benefits for up to 26 weeks per year while they transition to new jobs.

Vélez Casanova also highlighted that the agency’s Employment Service will assist workers in searching for new opportunities through its database and the PERFIL platform, an AI‑powered job‑matching tool that connects job seekers with positions aligned with their skills and qualifications.

The DTRH will also coordinate efforts with the Department of Economic Development and Commerce to further support affected employees.

Baxter Healthcare confirmed the dismissal of 20 workers from its Guayama plant this week, and similar actions could occur at its other facilities across Puerto Rico.

The layoffs caught both Guayama Mayor O’brain Vázquez Molina and Vélez Casanova off guard, as the company did not formally notify local or labor officials nor seek assistance programs for displaced workers.

“At this moment, I lack formal notification from the company’s directors,” Vázquez Molina said in a written statement. He added that he will send an official communication to Vélez Casanova requesting updates on the measures being implemented to support the affected employees.

The DTRH secretary reiterated the availability of unemployment assistance, again urging the laid‑off workers to file their claims through the government’s online portal.