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Over 4,000 Puerto Rico public employees take part in Voluntary Transition Program

By on July 2, 2018

Gerardo Portela, director of the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (Courtesy)

SAN JUAN – The executive director of Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (AAFAF), Gerardo Portela, expressed satisfaction with the second phase of the government’s Voluntary Transition Program, according to a release issued by his office.

Portela said that during the past two months, around 4,500 public employees of the Retirement System (Government Employees and Judiciary Retirement Systems Administration and Teacher Retirement System), Education Department, Public Safety Department and Economic Development Department (including ascribed agencies) requested to participate in the program, which allows eligible workers to transition to nonprofit and non-governmental organizations or the private sector in exchange for a tax-free economic incentive.

The official mentioned that the requests are being evaluated and the government entities where the applicants work must approve or deny them by July 15. In the case of Highways and Transportation Authority employees, these have until Aug. 15 to request participation in the incentivized resignation program.

“The Voluntary Transition Program is a tool that allows us to reduce public spending in payroll…in a fiscally responsible manner and in a manner compatible with the public policy of our Administration,” Portela adds in the release.

The program’s first “phase” was carried out last fiscal year, when more than 2,165 public employees left government work.

Portela said new program phases aimed at government entities that are in the process of reorganization will be implemented in the coming months.

The retirement systems for government employees and teachers was extended until Nov. 30.

Puerto Rico gov’t reminds workers about its voluntary resignation program

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