Politics

Puerto Rico Launches New Digital Platform for Unemployment Services

Published Aug 31, 2026, 6:56 PM ASTvia Primera Hora

At a glance

  • Desempleo Digital will replace 40-year-old technology
  • The platform will be available starting September 1, 2026
  • Users can access information and perform transactions from a computer, tablet, or mobile device

Why this matters: The new platform will improve access to unemployment services for Puerto Rican workers and employers, streamlining processes and reducing the need for in-person office visits.

María del Pilar Vélez Casanova, Secretary of the Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH), announced the launch of Desempleo Digital, a new technology platform to manage Unemployment Insurance services and the Employer Portal. The system replaces infrastructure built roughly 40 years ago, offering a more automated, accessible, and secure process for claimants and employers.

It also gives the Department stronger tools for audit and oversight compliance and for handling sudden surges in benefit demand. Desempleo Digital will become available starting September 1, 2026, accessible through trabajo.pr.gov for claimants, employers, third-party administrators (TPAs), and accounting professionals. The platform integrates processes that previously required manual handling or in-person office visits, allowing users to access documents, update information, submit forms, and track claims from a computer, tablet, or mobile device.

Employers, TPAs, and accountants will get centralized access to accounts, documents, payments, and obligations related to Unemployment Insurance and the Temporary Non-Occupational Disability Insurance (SINOT) program. Vélez Casanova stated that the platform transforms how services are administered, giving citizens greater control over their information without needing office visits, while helping the Department automate processes, improve traceability, and better manage this essential program for workers.

In context

SourcePrimera Hora

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