A new law in Puerto Rico provides several pay and anti-discrimination protections for athletes on account of their pregnancies. A separate sports-related employment law extends leave protections for eligible athletes, coaches and specialized personnel who are absent from their jobs to represent Puerto Rico in official sports competitions. The following summarizes these two laws.
Puerto Rico Athlete Mother Protection Act (Act 117-2023)
On October 4, 2023, Puerto Rico Governor Hon. Pedro R. Pierluisi signed into law the Puerto Rico Athlete Mothers Protection Act, Act 117 of October 4, 2023 (“Act 117-2023”) with the purpose of extending the rights of working mothers, in this case mothers who are athletes. This Act will enter into force as of December 4, 2023.
Act 117-2023 provides the following protections: (1) prohibits gender discrimination by any sports federation, sports league, team, or sports club that penalizes an athlete for being pregnant, either through dismissal without compensation, reduction of compensation or any other manifestation of discriminatory treatment; (2) prohibits clauses in any sports participation contract that penalize the athlete for being pregnant; (3) if the athlete has to be replaced during the season due to pregnancy, she will be guaranteed 45% of the total contract or the remainder that has not been paid (the parties may agree on another percentage, if it is not less than 25% of the base salary and it is accompanied by some other benefit);...
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