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© 2015 Dwellworks
Supplemental Material
4. Thirteenth Month or Christmas Bonus
In case of termination of employment before the end of the corresponding term, the bonus must
be paid proportionally and immediately. The bonus must be paid regardless of the cause for
termination.
Maternity and Disability
Maternity labor licenses grant employees a hiatus permit of one month pre-birth and three
months post-birth. Employees on maternity leave or those in their nursing period, may only be
fired for just cause and after having filed for termination approval before the Ministry of Labor.
Partial disability licenses (i.e., illness), is also granted by the Social Security System, after
medical evaluation.
On maternity leave the employee receives 50% of the normal salary from the Social Security
office and 50% from the employer. New mothers are entitled to up to a year of breastfeeding- an
hour daily.
Work Schedule
The ordinary work schedule is eight hours a day with a maximum of 48 hours per week. These
48 hours may be divided among five days, or six days (for example: Monday through Saturday).
There is one mandatory day of rest that should be given to all employees. There are specific
rules for night shifts, and management positions.
Overtime
Labor laws allow work that goes beyond a workday exceptionally, in accordance to statutes and
cannot exceed twelve continuous hours. Overtime wages are equivalent to a corresponding
hourly rate, plus 50%. These rules are only applicable to plant workers and administrative
employees.
Social Security
A public institution (Costa Rica Social Security Bureau) manages the national health system, in
conjunction with the Ministry of Health: Employer and employee contributions for the national
health system are obligatory and are calculated as a percentage of a monthly salary.
Contributions are equivalent to 24% of paid salary from employer and 9% of salary from
employee.
The system includes two schemes, which are obligatory for all legally established employers
and employees: Illness and maternity (medical treatment), disability, old age and death
(mandatory pension). The social security system does not impede employers to join other,
public or private, pension, heath or retirement plans.