Puerto Rico Governor announces employee bonuses and pension reform plan

Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón has announced a special $2,000 bonus for 365 employees of the Administration for the Support of Minors (ASUME) and the PROSPERA Program. The initiative, estimated to cost $810,300, aims to recognize staff productivity and support employee retention despite a workforce reduction of approximately 5% over the last three fiscal years.

Separately, the Governor is proposing a plan to evaluate raising the minimum monthly pension for retired public employees to $1,000. Currently, more than 55,000 retirees in Puerto Rico receive government pensions below this threshold, with some receiving as little as $400 to $800 per month.

González Colón noted that implementing these pension increases will require actuarial studies to determine costs and segmentation of worker groups. The proposal will also necessitate identifying necessary funding and reaching agreements with the Financial Oversight and Management Board.