2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-NINE - Labor (§§ 1 — 3004) › PART I - Labor Provisions Generally (§§ 1 — 510k) › Chapter 19B - Employment of Youths in Construction Industry (§§ 479 — 479g) › § 479 - Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings stated below:
(a) Training.— Means for the purposes of this chapter, the type of education that is directed to train a person in the construction field.
(b) Certificate of employment.— Means a certificate issued by the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources, or a person or entity designated by him/her, to a person between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age, enrolled in a vocational course, to work during the summer recess with an employer or authorized entity, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter; or the certificate of employment for the summer recess months, issued by the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources to a person between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age, attending a high school, who as part of his/her curriculum, has taken or is taking training courses in work related to the construction industry; or the certificate issued by the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources to a person between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age, who has graduated from a regular Department of Education Program, or any equivalent program approved by the Department of Education.
(c) Medical certificate.— Means the certificate of physical capacity signed by a physician, stating that the minor has been submitted to a physical examination, and that he/she has attained the normal physical development of a minor his/her age, that he/she is in sound health and physically and mentally fit for employment in the construction industry.
(d) Birth certificate.— Means a certificate issued by request to a person between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age, attesting to the date of birth and age, and issued by the Puerto Rico General Registry of Vital Statistics.
(e) Student.— Means a person studying in an educational institution duly credited by the Department of Education.
(f) Graduate student.— Means that person who is graduated from an educational institution duly-accredited by the Department of Education, after having completed the regular high school or vocational school program, or through courses or GED tests approved by the Department of Education.
(g) Apprentice permit.— Means a certificate issued by the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources to a person between the ages of 16 and 18 years, permitting his/her employment by an employer or authorized entity, while attending vocational courses, as part of his/her practical training in an area related to construction.
(h) Employment permit.— Means the permit issued by the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources to a person between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age, who is attending school or has graduated from a vocational or regular school that includes vocational courses, accredited by the Department of Education or the Department of Labor and Human Resources, authorizing his/her employment by an employer or authorized entity, as part of his/her practical work training in an area related to construction. Such authorization shall be for a fixed term.
(i) Minor.— For the purposes of this chapter, means any person between the ages of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years.
(j) Employer.— Means any natural or juridical person, whether principal or agent, that employs a minor.
(k) Authorized employer.— Means every employer, contractor, special partnership, company, corporation or entity of any sort engaged in construction industry, duly accredited by the Secretary of Labor and Human Resources to employ a minor who has been granted an employment or apprentice permit. In order to be authorized, such employer shall have to certify that he/she has implemented successful safety program in his/her enterprise and that he/she has followed it. Likewise, he/she shall have consistently met every requirement established by federal and state laws regarding the employment of minors.
(l) Lucrative occupation.— Means work carried out in any construction work or job, directly or indirectly performed in any part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and for which the person who performs or carries it out is remunerated.
History —Aug. 10, 2002, No. 161, § 2, eff. 90 days after Aug. 10, 2002.