Partnership Agreement Between the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division and the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources, Labor Standards Division

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The United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (hereinafter referred to as “WHD” or “Department”), and the Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Humans Resources, Labor Standards Division (hereinafter referred to as PR-LSD) (collectively referred to as “the agencies” or “the parties”) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to promote compliance with laws of common concern among the regulated community in the State of Puerto Rico.

The agencies are forming this partnership to more effectively and efficiently communicate and cooperate between the agencies, cross train staff such as investigators, provide employers and employees information, compliance assistance materials, and access to training resources that will help them protect the wages, safety, and health of America’s workforce and to conduct joint investigations and share information as appropriate. With the specific and mutual goals of providing clear, accurate, and easy-to-access outreach to employers, employees, and other stakeholders, and of sharing resources and enhancing enforcement by conducting coordinated investigations and sharing information consistent with applicable law, the parties agree to enter into this partnership.

THEREFORE, IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED THAT:

The agencies recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to promote compliance with laws of common concern in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The agencies are forming this partnership to more effectively and efficiently communicate and cooperate on areas of common interest, including sharing training materials, providing employers and employees with compliance assistance information, conducting coordinated investigations, and sharing information as appropriate.

This memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement is intended to memorialize this understanding between WHD and PR-LSD. This MOU is a voluntary agreement that expresses the good-faith intentions of WHD and PR-LSD; it is not intended to be legally binding, does not create any contractual obligations, and it is not enforceable by any party. This MOU agreement does not obligate and will not result in an exchange of funds, personnel, property, services, or any kind of financial commitment. This MOU agreement outlines procedures to be followed by both WHD and PR-LSD in working together to address the need for effectively and efficiently communicate and cooperate between the agencies, cross train staff such as investigators, provide employers and employees information, compliance assistance materials, and access to training resources that will help them protect the wages, safety, and health of America’s workforce and to conduct joint investigations and share information as appropriate between WHD and PR-LSD.

Agency Responsibilities

WHD enforces the Federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to Federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.

The PR-LSD is responsible for administering and enforcing Puerto Rico’s labor laws relating minimum wage, overtime, student learners, child labor, disabled workers, and equal pay; including the followings: To Regulate the Operations of Business Establishments; to Regulate Labors, Contracts; to establish a leave without pay for sports training; to regulate the recruitment of temporary employees through temporary; to establish a minimum wage for the professional nursing class in the private sector; to establish a special sports leave for employees of the public and private sector; to regulate or facilitate controlled substances detection; act to collection of employees claim by Secretary of Labor and Human Resource; to provide that every employee in commerce; to guaranty the payment of wages and to required contractors, act artistic, musical and tourist shows; to provided that any employee that has been discharged; to establish the payment of a bonus to certain employees of private enterprise; to create an act for the Promotion of Jobs and Vocational Training for Youths; to establish the Puerto Rico Minimum Wage; to prohibit all employers of private enterprises and of the public corporation; to regulate the employment of minors and provide for compulsory public school; to fix one day of rest for each six (6) working days in behalf of the employees industrial establishments; to establish working day in Puerto Rico and to Regulate Private Employment Agencies.

With the specific and mutual goals of providing clear, accurate, and easy-to-access outreach to employers, employees, and other stakeholders, on state labor standards and of sharing resources and enhancing enforcement by conducting joint investigations and sharing information, the parties agree to enter into this partnership.

The parties agree as follows:

1. Purpose

   The purpose of the MOU is to maximize and improve the enforcement of the laws administered by DOL's WHD and by PR-LSD. This agreement will also encourage enhanced law enforcement and greater coordination between the agencies through training materials, compliance assistance information, coordinated investigations and shared information.

2. Provisions

   The parties to this MOU agree as follows:

   1. Outreach and Education
      • The agencies agree to coordinate, conduct joint outreach presentations, and prepare and distribute publications, when appropriate, for the regulated community of common concern.
      • The agencies agree to work with each other to provide a side-by-side comparison of laws with overlapping provisions and jurisdiction.
      • The agencies agree to provide a hyperlink on each agency’s website linking users directly to the outreach materials in areas of mutual jurisdiction and concern.
      • The agencies agree to jointly disseminate outreach materials to the regulated community, when appropriate.
      • All materials bearing the DOL or WHD name, logo, or seal must be approved in advance by DOL.
      • All materials bearing the PR-LSD name, logo, or seal must be approved in advance by PR-LSD.
   2. Points of Contacts (POCs)
      • The agencies will designate a POC responsible for coordinating the partnership activities. The agencies will notify each other in the event of the separation or long-term absence of their contact persons.
      • The agencies will designate a representative to meet every so often as it may be requested or needed by any of the parties to review areas of mutual concern and the terms and conditions of the partnership.
      • POC designees:

      Formal POCS:

      Lucila Vázquez-Íñigo
      Director
      PR-LSD
      787-754-2100
      lvazquez@trabajo.pr.gov
      9th floor, Muñoz Rivera Ave. 505
      Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918

      José R. Vázquez-Fernández
      District Director
      US Dept. of Labor Wage and Hour Division
      Caribbean District Office
      787-775-1710
      Vazquez.jose.r@dol.gov
      T-Mobile Center Suite 1104
      Tabonuco St. B-7
      Guaynabo, P.R. 00968

      Informal POCS:

      Lucila Vázquez-Íñigo
      Director
      PR-LSD
      787-754-2100
      lvazquez@trabajo.pr.gov
      9th floor, Muñoz Rivera Ave. 505
      Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918

      José R. Vázquez-Fernández
      District Director
      US Dept. of Labor Wage and Hour Division
      Caribbean District Office
      787-775-1710
      Vazquez.jose.r@dol.gov
      T-Mobile Center Suite 1104
      Tabonuco St. B-7
      Guaynabo, P.R. 00968

   3. Enforcement

      Where appropriate and to the extent allowable under law,

      • The agencies may conduct joint investigations annually in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico if appropriate or if opportunity provides.
      • The agencies may coordinate their respective enforcement activities and assist each other with enforcement, where appropriate and to the extent allowable under law.
      • The agencies will make referrals of potential violations of each others statutes, where appropriate.
   4. Information
      • The agencies agree to exchange information on laws and regulations of common concern to the agencies, to the extent practicable.
      • The agencies will establish a methodology for exchanging investigative leads, complaints, and referrals of possible violations, to the extent allowable by law or policy.
      • The agencies will exchange information (statistical data) on incidence of violations in specific industries and geographic areas, if possible.
   5. Training
      • The agencies agree to cross train investigators and other staff no less than once per calendar year, subject to agency resources. Joint training will be conducted to educate staff members of both agencies about the laws and regulations enforced by both, and to discuss issues of common concern.
      • The agencies will exchange information related to policy or regulatory changes to State or Federal laws, to the extent permissible.
3. Previous Agreements
   • This agreement replaces and supersedes any previous Partnership Agreement MOU between the parties.
4. Effect of MOU Agreement
   • This MOU agreement does not authorize the expenditure or reimbursement of any funds. Nothing in this agreement obligates the parties to expend appropriations or enter into any contract or other obligations.
   • By entering into this partnership, the agencies do not imply an endorsement or promotion by either agency of the policies, programs, or services of the other.
   • Nothing in this MOU agreement is intended to diminish or otherwise affect the authority of either agency to implement its respective statutory or regulatory functions.
   • This MOU agreement is not intended to be legally binding and does not confer any rights on any private person.
   • This MOU agreement is an internal government agreement and is not intended to confer any rights against the United States, its agencies, or its officers upon any private person.
   • This MOU agreement is an internal government agreement and is not intended to confer any rights against the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its agencies, or its officers upon any private person.
   • Nothing in this MOU agreement will be interpreted as limiting, superseding, or otherwise affecting the agencies’ normal operations or decisions in carrying out their statutory or regulatory duties, or duties under any Executive Order. This MOU agreement also does not limit or restrict the parties from participating in similar activities or arrangements with other entities.
   • This agreement will be executed in full compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Freedom of Information Act, the Federal Records Act, and any other applicable federal laws and state laws.
   • This MOU agreement contains all the terms and conditions agreed upon by the agencies concerning the subject matter of the agreement. No other understandings, oral or otherwise, regarding the subject matter of this agreement shall be deemed to exist or be binding upon the agencies. This agreement is not intended to confer any right upon any private person or other third party.
5. Exchange of Information

   To the extent permitted by law, the agencies understand that in order to effectuate the purposes and provisions of this MOU, it will be necessary, from time to time, to exchange information, some of which may be considered confidential. It is the policy of each of the parties to cooperate with other government agencies to the fullest extent possible under the law, subject to the general limitation that any such cooperation must be consistent with its own statutory obligations and enforcement efforts. It is the view of the parties that an exchange of information in which both agencies are proceeding with a common legal interest is to their mutual benefit. The agencies to this MOU agreement recognize the importance of being able to provide information to other law enforcement bodies without waiving the privilege of otherwise protected material or make a public disclosure.

   It is the policy of WHD and PR-LSD to cooperate with other government agencies to the fullest extent possible under the law, subject to the general limitation that any such cooperation must be consistent with the WHD’s and PR-LSD’s own statutory obligations and enforcement efforts. It is WHD’s and PR-LSD’s view that an exchange of information in cases in which both entities are proceeding on basically the same matter is to our mutual benefit. There is a need for WHD and PR-LSD to provide information to other law enforcement bodies without making a public disclosure.

   In consideration of these concerns, and subject to any applicable laws and regulations regarding the handling of such information, the agencies agree as follows:

   1. The agencies agree to exchange information on laws and regulations of common concern and interest, to the extent practicable and allowable by law and policy.
   2. The parties will be available to discuss and provide information to one another on topics of mutual interest, overlapping jurisdiction, or certain areas of expertise, when able.
   3. Exchange of information to one another pursuant to this MOU is not considered a public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C.552.
   4. When confidential information is exchanged, it will not be released to the public, or to any third party, without the express permission of the agency providing that information, except as required by law including, but not limited to, the Public Records Act, Chapter 239.001 NRS. Upon receipt of a public disclosure request, PR-LSD agrees to provide WHD with notice of the request and an opportunity to pursue legal action to prevent the release of information.
   5. When confidential information is exchanged it shall be used and accessed only for the limited purposes of carrying out activities pursuant to this Agreement as described herein. The information shall not be duplicated or re-disclosed without the written authority of the Agency providing the information (hereinafter the “donor agency”), a court order or if otherwise required by law.
   6. Confidential information means information that may be privileged or otherwise exempt from disclosure to the public or other unauthorized persons under federal and state laws. Confidential information may include: the identity of persons who have given information to the agencies in confidence or under circumstances in which confidentiality can be implied; any employee statements in enforcement files that were obtained under these conditions; internal opinions, policy statements, memoranda, and recommendations of federal or state employees, including (but not limited to) investigators and supervisors; any records that would otherwise not be subject to disclosure under law as non-final, intra- or inter-agency documents; information or records covered by the attorney-client privilege and the attorney work-product privilege; personal information protected by any relevant law or regulation; individually identifiable health information; and confidential business information and trade secrets.
   7. Confidential Unemployment Compensation (UC) information, as defined in 20 CFR 603.2(b), means any unemployment compensation information, as defined in 20 CFR 603.2(j), required to be kept confidential under 20 CFR 603.4 or its successor law or regulation.
   8. In the event that there is a public pro¬ceeding, such as a trial, in which certain records, such as confidential information, may be used or testimony of WHD’s employees sought, WHD requires that PR-LSD notify WHD.
   9. In the event that there is a public proceeding, such as a trial, in which certain records, such as confidential information, may be used or testimony of PR-LSD employees sought, PR-LSD requires that WHD notify PR-LSD.
   10. Should either party receive a request or subpoena that would, fairly construed, seek production of privileged information that it received pursuant to this MOU agreement, the party receiving such a request or subpoena shall take reasonable measures, including but not limited to asserting the common interest privilege, to preclude or restrict the production of such information for ten (10) business days, and shall promptly notify the donor agency that such a request or subpoena has been received, so that the donor agency may file any appropriate objections or motions, or take any other appropriate steps, to preclude or condition the production of such information.
   11. Neither party shall have authority to waive any applicable privilege or doctrine on behalf of the other party, nor shall any waiver of an applicable privilege or doctrine by the conduct of one party be construed to apply to the other party.
   12. The agencies will notify one another, through the agency POC identified in this MOU, upon commencement of litigation, a hearing, or other proceeding that may involve the release, through subpoena, introduction of written evidence, or testimony, of information exchanged under this agreement.
   13. In addition to the requirements above, Confidential Unemployment Compensation information may be exchanged only subject to the confidentiality requirements of 20 CFR 603.4 and any applicable state laws.
   14. For information security purposes, information (including paper-based documents and electronic information such as emails and CDs) exchanged pursuant to this MOU agreement remains the responsibility of the donor agency while in transit. The agencies agree to establish a communication protocol for notifying each agency’s designated POC when information is sent to or received from that agency, including information on the form of the transfer and the media type and quantity (when appropriate). An agency expecting to receive information will notify the donor agency if the information is not received as of the next business date following the agreed upon delivery date. Confidential data will be destroyed no later than thirty (30) days after its use and may be transmitted via secure FTP. Use includes the time period required for compliance with federal records retention periods. Confidential data, Personal Identifiable Information (PII), will not be electronically mailed, unless encrypted using approved encryption standards.
   15. For information security purposes, after an agency receives information from the donor agency, the donor agency retains no responsibility for any security incidents, inadvertent disclosure, or the physical and information technology safeguards in place for protecting that information by the agency that received it.
   16. However, in the event that the agency receiving the information experiences a security incident or disaster that results in the suspected or confirmed inadvertent disclosure of the data exchanged pursuant to this MOU agreement, the agency experiencing the incident or disaster will send formal written electronic notification to the donor agency’s designated contact person immediately within three (3) days after detection of the incident or disaster. The written electronic notification will describe the security incident or disaster in detail including what data exchanged pursuant to this MOU agreement may have been inadvertently disclosed.
   17. At the conclusion of an investigation and prosecution by either party, the receiving agency will return any and all confidential information to the donor agency, except as required by law, including the Records Retention Act.

   Subject to the foregoing constraints:

   18. The agencies agree to exchange information on laws and regulations of common concern to the agencies, to the extent practicable.
   19. The agencies will establish a methodology for exchanging investigative leads, complaints, and referrals of possible violations, to the extent allowable by law and policy.
   20. The agencies will exchange information (statistical data) on the incidence of violations in specific industries and geographic areas, if possible.
   21. Liability of the U.S. Government is governed by the Federal Torts Claims Act.
6. Dissemination of Factual Information
   • The agencies agree to jointly disseminate outreach materials to the regulated community when appropriate. Any such dissemination may not be undertaken without prior notice of each party.
   • All public materials bearing the United States Department of Labor ("USDOL") or WHD name, logo, or seal must be approved in advance by USDOL. Any such materials that include the opinions, results, findings and/or interpretations of data arising from the results of activities carried out under the Agreement shall state that they are the responsibility of the party carrying out the activity and do not necessarily represent the opinions, interpretation, or policy of the other partner.
7. Resolution of Disagreements
   • Disputes arising under this Agreement will be resolved informally by discussions between Agency Points of Contact, or other officials designated by each agency.
8. Period of Agreement
   • This MOU agreement becomes effective upon the signing of both parties, and will expire three (3) years from the effective date. This agreement may be modified in writing by mutual consent of both agencies. The agreement may be cancelled by either party by giving thirty (30) days advance written notice prior to the date of termination. Renewal of the agreement may be accomplished by written agreement of the parties.

This agreement is effective as of the 2nd day of August, 2018.