Labor regulations in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a country blessed with abundant natural beauty and friendly inhabitants. Anyone visiting this gorgeous country will find them reluctant to leave here. If you need reasons to move and work in Costa Rica, how about choosing one of these? It has excellent health care facilities, a low cost of living, beautiful beaches, vibrant culture and friendly people. It is one of the most eco- friendly countries in the world and places high value in conservation of nature. However before trying to find work here, you have to learn more about the labor regulations in this country.

Costa Rica’s Labor Law is the main employment law in the country. Additional regulations include Law against Sexual Harassment, Equal opportunity for women and disabled people, Law against discrimination and Worker protection act.

Minimum Wages:

Costa Rica’s Labor ministry revises the minimum wages every 6 months. An exact minimum wage has not been set, instead it depends on the industry and the job a person holds. No employee should be paid less than the specified minimum wage.

Social Security

Social security system in Costa Rica is called the Caja and all employees should be registered in this by the employer. It provides free health care and retirement and disability pensions. Employers contribute roughly around 34% and approximately 9% is deducted from the employee’s salary.

Vacations

All employees are entitled one day for every month they worked. After 50 weeks of work, they are due a two week vacation. Vacation time is granted excluding weekends and paid holidays.

Holidays

There are paid holidays and unpaid holidays. New Year’s Day, Juan Santamaria Day, Easter week Thursday and Friday, Labor Day, Annexation of Guanacaste Day, Mother’s Day, Independence Day and Christmas are the paid holidays. Virgin of Los Angeles Day and Culture Day are the unpaid holidays for wage earners. But salaried employees get paid for these days.

Severance Pay

It is paid on the last day of your employment with a company, if you are fired or laid off. If you worked with your company for three to six months, you will get one week’s wages or equivalent. Six to twelve months employment will get you two weeks’ worth of wages as severance pay. If you have worked for one year or more, you will get wages worth 20 days.

Working Hours:

There are day shifts and night shifts. Day shifts will be of 8 hours and a total of 48 hours per week. Night shifts, on the other hand, will be of 6 hours with a weekly total of 36 hours. Mixed shifts are also allowed.Day shifts normally start at 5 in the morning and will end at 7 in the evening. Night shifts are usually from 7 in the evening to 5 in the morning.

Child Labor:

According to Labor code, child labor is prohibited in hazardous work situations and work involving alcohol. If you are under the age of 18, then legally you are considered as a child. It is also illegal to employ child workers for work with chemicals and work at sea. For more information about our site please click here.

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