Ley 43 del 2008
Resumen
Esta ley enmienda la Ley Orgánica del Departamento del Trabajo y Recursos Humanos para incluir entre sus deberes la orientación a instituciones de educación postsecundaria, públicas y privadas, sobre las demandas y necesidades actuales y futuras del mercado laboral. El objetivo es que estas instituciones puedan utilizar esta información al revisar sus currículos, alineando la oferta académica con las necesidades del empleo en Puerto Rico.
Contenido
(No. 43)
(Approved April 17, 2008)
AN ACT
To amend Section 3 of Act No. 15 of April 14, 1931, as amended, known as the "Organic Act of the Department of Labor and Human Resources of Puerto Rico," in order to include providing orientations to public and private postsecondary education institutions regarding the present demands and true needs of the employment market among the duties of the Department, so that that these institutions may have this benefit when they review their curricula.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
In order to further the academic education of our young professionals to increase their employment opportunities as well as the quality of services rendered to our citizens vis-à-vis the international competition, we deem necessary the cooperation of the Government of Puerto Rico toward postsecondary education institutions so that they may offer in their curricula the courses and skills necessary to satisfy the demand of the employment market. In Puerto Rico, the employment market is competitive and distinctive. Its needs and demands are ever-changing due to several factors, both internal and external.
The Department of Labor and Human Resources of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an essential entity in the administration of the public policy on the education of human resources. Among its aims is the training of the citizens so that they may take advantage of the available employment opportunities.
On the other hand, the higher education institutions are responsible for the education of many of the youths that join the employment market yearly. On occasion, an attempt is made to measure a higher education by its retention rate or the number of graduates; however, the contribution offered by that graduate as a member of the employment market remains pending. To make this possible, it is necessary for the institutions to be able to count on information about market demands when they prepare their academic offerings or curricula, thus seeking to increase the employment opportunities for these youths at the time of graduation.
This Legislature reaffirms its commitment to postsecondary education and the creation of employment opportunities for graduating youths. In this manner, we deem that the Government shall help to promote academic development directed toward the specific needs of the market.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.-Section 3 of Act No. 15 of April 14, 1931, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 3. — The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources shall be in charge of the general direction, administration and supervision of his/her Department and shall be the head thereof; through the agencies, services and bureaus created by law, he/she shall promote and stimulate the best relations between workers and employers by mediating and conciliating in industrial conflicts with noble spirit leading to the preservation of industrial peace and the general development and progress, in industrial disputes; he/she shall investigate and inquire into the reasons for unrest among the workers; he/she shall compile and publish statistics in regard to the condition of industries and enterprises, and shall determine their temporary or permanent nature;
he/she shall conduct studies and investigations of the living and working conditions of industrial and agricultural workers, work systems, daily working hours, salary or wage rates, and hygiene and safety in the fields, factories and shops; he/she shall study the organization of the arts, trades or manual occupations, and cooperative and beneficent and pension systems, and shall compile and publish the data for the purpose of showing their development, progress or failure; he/she shall study and codify social and labor-protecting legislation in force; he/she shall compile and publish all rules and regulations prescribed in the labor legislation in force, for general information; he/she shall cooperate and establish connections with all institutions and associations of good repute that are organized to protect, advance and further labor interests, to improve the spirit of good will among workers and employers, and to promote industrial, agricultural and commercial activities.
The Secretary of Labor and Human Resources shall provide free of charge to public and private postsecondary education institutions those publications, reports and studies related to the present demands and needs of the employment market as well as any future projections available. He/she shall also provide orientations to said institutions on the possible future demands of the employment market so that they may be able to review their curricula in order to respond to the true needs of Puerto Rico.
Section 2.-Effectiveness.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 43 (S.B. 1643) of the $7^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $15^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 3 of Act No. 15 of April 14, 1931, as amended, known as the "Organic Act of the Department of Labor and Human Resources of Puerto Rico," in order to include providing orientations to public and private postsecondary education institutions regarding the present demands and true needs of the employment market among the duties of the Department, so that that these institutions may have this benefit when they review their curricula, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $2^{ ext {nd }}$ of June of 2008.
Francisco J. Domenech Director