To amend Articles 3 and 4 of Act No. 3 of March 13, 1942, as amended, known as the "Working Mothers Protection Act," for the purpose of extending the maternity leave period for private sector employees from eight (8) to twelve (12) weeks, generally distributed as six (6) weeks of prenatal leave and six (6) weeks of postnatal leave, with the possibility of prenatal/postnatal redistribution subject to medical certification; to reaffirm the full payment of the employee's salary during said period; to extend these benefits, equally, to adoptive mothers; and for other related purposes.

To direct the Department of Health to conduct, in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics and the Graduate School of Public Health of the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, a prevalence study to determine the statistical incidence of autism spectrum disorders in Puerto Rico.

Institute Presents Social and Health Profile of Schoolchildren

Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, was a keynote speaker at the First Puerto Rican Summit on School Health Promotion. During his presentation, he provided an update on the social and health profile of schoolchildren in Puerto Rico, highlighting the impact of social determinants on inequalities.

Dr. Disdier explained that Puerto Rico is facing a school enrollment crisis linked to demographic changes, as well as significant socioeconomic vulnerability, evidenced by more than 50% of minors living below the poverty level. However, he emphasized that despite high income inequality and various health challenges, education remains the primary driver of social mobility and an essential path to economic advancement.

Access a copy of the presentation at: The Social and Health Profile of Schoolchildren in Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics will provide guidance on how to access and interpret Puerto Rico's financial statistics in the "Financial Statistics" webinar this Thursday, May 21.

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics announced it will host the "Financial Statistics" webinar, an educational initiative aimed at presenting and contextualizing the main indicators of Puerto Rico's financial system, as well as the official sources available for their analysis and interpretation.

The event will take place this Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., as part of the Institute's Academies and Workshops Program. The webinar will be offered virtually via the GoToWebinar platform, will include 1.5 contact hours and will be free of charge, although prior registration is required via the following link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8839159147111590485.

The speaker will be the Institute's statistical projects manager, Dr. Ronald G. Hernández Maldonado, who will discuss indicators published by entities such as the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions (OCIF), the Public Corporation for the Supervision and Insurance of Cooperatives of Puerto Rico (COSSEC), and the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics itself.

Topics to be discussed include the main data sources for financial statistics used in Puerto Rico, the interpretation of economic and financial indicators, and the official platforms where the public can access this information for analysis, research, and decision-making.

“Financial statistics provide a better understanding of the behavior of various economic sectors and facilitate informed decision-making in both public and private spheres. Access to and understanding of this data is fundamental for promoting more precise analyses of Puerto Rico's economic reality and strengthening the use of official and reliable information,” said Hernández Maldonado.

"Financial education based on empirical data is the first step towards more accurate decision-making, both personally and collectively. We encourage all citizens to participate in this free virtual event, designed to make financial statistics an accessible, useful, and highly valuable tool for everyone,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, Executive Director of the Institute.

The webinar is aimed at professionals, researchers, students, and individuals interested in the economic and financial analysis of Puerto Rico. As requirements, participants must have an internet connection and access to a computer or tablet.

To direct the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics to conduct a comprehensive and detailed investigation into the needs and deficiencies within the various areas of Puerto Rico's healthcare system, in order to more efficiently direct government efforts and resources towards the highest priority issues.

To order the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics to conduct a study on the cost of medical practice in Puerto Rico in order to provide data to justify before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the need for an adjustment in payments to healthcare providers under the Medicare Fee Schedule; and for other related purposes.