The short version
- Labor Secretary María del Pilar Vélez Casanova said the government learned of the closures through media and social networks without prior notice from the employer
- NotiCel reported that the department will examine whether Encanto Restaurants gave the required 60-day notice and if it owes salaries or vacation pay
- According to DTRH payroll records cited by both outlets, the company has approximately 2,600 to 2,700 employees across KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and IHOP franchises
- Economic Development Secretary Carlos Ríos Pierluisi announced four recruitment fairs in Mayagüez, San Juan, Ponce and Fajardo with over 50 employers including Burger King
Investigation Announced
Labor Secretary María del Pilar Vélez Casanova announced on Thursday that the Departamento del Trabajo y Recursos Humanos (DTRH) will investigate whether Encanto Restaurants complied with the legal requirement to notify layoffs 60 days in advance and whether the company owes wages or benefits to its employees. NotiCel reported that the inquiry will also look into the circumstances that led to the closures and what company executives knew beforehand.
Vélez Casanova told reporters at La Fortaleza that the government first learned of the sudden closures through news outlets and social media posts by workers who found their workplaces shuttered. Both NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico quoted her saying officials had received no prior notification from the employer.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Fue a través de los medios, igual que ustedes, a través de los medios y las redes sociales, cuando supimos qué era lo que estaba pasando
Our translation: It was through the media, just like you, through the media and social networks, that we found out what was happening
The source's own statement, as quoted by NotiCel. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Support for Displaced Workers
As of Thursday, about 500 workers had applied for unemployment benefits, according to the Labor Department. Vélez Casanova stated that laid-off employees can access benefits even without official termination documents, given the widespread media coverage of the closures. Weekly benefits range from $88 to $240 depending on prior earnings and eligibility, she said. NotiCel reported that the department will represent workers in claims if violations are found.
Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Carlos Ríos Pierluisi announced four job fairs: Nov. 10 in Mayagüez, Nov. 12 in San Juan, Nov. 17 in Ponce and Nov. 23 in Fajardo. More than 50 employers from food service, manufacturing and other sectors have registered, including Burger King, which is hiring more than 500 people. The fairs are open to all job seekers and will offer unemployment guidance, financial assistance and psychological support. NotiCel reported that talks with Encanto Restaurants are continuing but no final information has been obtained.
Where the sources differ
Both NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico reported the same core facts from the Thursday press conference, including the investigation into notification failures and possible unpaid wages, the government's lack of prior notice, the 2,600-2,700 employee count, and the roughly 500 unemployment claims. NotiCel provided additional details on the four specific job fair dates and locations, the list of participating employers such as Burger King hiring over 500 people, the availability of psychological support and other services, and the statement that conversations with Encanto Restaurants continue without final information. Telemundo's account stopped at the unemployment claims figure.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state how many restaurants or specific locations actually closed, the exact number of workers ultimately laid off, whether any partial closures became permanent, the reasons for the company's financial or quality problems, or when Encanto Restaurants might provide official notifications or final payments. No timeline for completing the Labor Department's investigation was given, nor was any comment from company representatives included.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Secretaria del Trabajo anuncia investigación por cesantías de Encanto Restaurants
- Official Secretaria del Trabajo anuncia investigación por cesantías de Encanto Restaurants
- Reporting Secretaria del Trabajo anuncia investigación por cesantías de Encanto Restaurants
- Reporting Departamento del Trabajo investigará cesantías de Encanto Restaurants
How we checked this
NotiCel and Telemundo Puerto Rico both covered the Labor Secretary's announcement and quotes from the La Fortaleza press conference. Details on the job fairs and participating employers rest solely on the NotiCel account.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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