Lawmaker introduces bill proposing 32-hour workweek for public employees
By THE STAR STAFF
A new bill filed in the island House of Representatives seeks to reduce the government workweek to four days without cutting pay, a move its sponsor says would ease financial pressure on public employees while improving productivity across agencies.
Rep. Joel Franqui Atiles introduced House Bill 1459, which proposes a 32‑hour workweek for employees covered under Puerto Rico’s Law 8, allowing them to work four eight‑hour days while retaining their full salary. The measure excludes critical service areas such as emergency management, public safety, and health, where existing schedules and staffing levels would remain in place.
Franqui Atiles framed the proposal as a practical response to Puerto Rico’s fiscal constraints.
“Our public servants face the daily impact of the cost of living,” he said. “This proposal seeks to make their money go further, give them more time with their families, and help the government use its resources more efficiently.”
With the central government unable to offer broad salary increases due to budget limitations, the legislator argues that reducing commuting costs and weekly expenses could provide meaningful relief. The bill emphasizes that the shorter workweek would be implemented without increasing public spending.
Under the plan, agencies would reorganize schedules to ensure uninterrupted public services. Franqui Atiles offered an example: one group of employees could work Monday through Thursday, while another works Tuesday through Friday, maintaining full coverage throughout the week.
The legislation also calls for operational plans, including rotating schedules, staffing assignments and service‑continuity protocols. Agencies would be allowed to set weekly hours above 32 when necessary, as long as employees do not exceed eight hours per day.
Pilot programs and phased implementation are included to evaluate efficiency, operational impact and fiscal compatibility before full adoption.
Franqui Atiles said the initiative aims to modernize government operations while protecting essential services.
“Productivity must be reflected in completed services, resolved procedures, and the quality of attention citizens receive,” he noted. “This reorganization is an opportunity to review processes, reduce downtime, and achieve better results with the resources we have.”
The bill is now pending legislative evaluation.
