Workers Compensation

Workers in Puerto Rico  are protected against accidents in the workplace through Puerto Rico’s government administered  State Insurance Fund Corporation (SIFC).

Any natural or legal person who employs one or more workers for some economic or cash compensation is considered an employer under Puerto Rico’s workers compensation law. Employers must insure all their employees through the SIFC.  An employee is any person working for an individual, company, government entity or corporation and who receives compensation for his or her services.

The Law considers two kinds of employers: regular or permanent employers and occasional or temporary employers. Regular or permanent employers are those who generate activity in places or establishments on a continuous and recurrent basis and for an indeterminate period of time. Occasional or temporary employers are those who occasionally develop activities in places or establishments for a limited period of time.

By insuring an employee, the employer receives  in exchange, immunity against lawsuits arising from   work-related accidents or injury.

There are two types of policies: the Regular or Permanent Policy and the Eventual or Temporary Policy. The Regular or Permanent Policy formalizes the relationship between the employer and the SIFC to enable the conduct of activities in establishments or places on a continuous and recurrent basis and for an indeterminate period of time. The Eventual or Temporary policy is for those employers who conduct activities in establishments or places on an occasional basis and for a limited time.