Employers are complaining that the cost of electricity is the factor which is pushing up production costs the most.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
"The cost of electricity is the factor that is pushing up production costs for companies in Costa Rica the most. This was demonstrated in the first quarterly business survey 'Business Pulse', carried out by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations Private Business Sector (UCCAEP).
The business sector is drawing attention to the fact that the Central Bank has not been clear in its explanations of the causes of the recent rise in the dollar.
Jaime Molina, president of the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprise at the Central Bank has complained about a lack of clarity in the explanations given for the causes of the recent rise in the exchange rate.
A legal bill includes a business proposal to train students simultaneously in schools and businesses.
From a press release from the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
A project that enables young people to "learn by doing" was signed on Tuesday by the President of the Republic, Laura Chinchilla, so that it can be discussed in the Legislative Assembly.
The rise in the polls of José María Villalta, presidential candidate of the Frente Amplio party in Costa Rica, sparks concern among businessmen.
The business sector of the country expressed concern after a poll carried out by Unimer showed that the leftist presidential candidate has, today, between 17% and 22% of voter intentions in the country.
Although the results of the survey have not yet outlined any of the candidates as a clear favorite, the rapid rise that Villalta has had has generated unrest among Costa Rican businessmen.
They recommend promoting improvements in areas such as legal certainty, procedures and infrastructure, in order to increase competitiveness and regain business confidence.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprises (Uccaep):
Confidence in the business sector fell 2% in the fourth quarter compared to the same period in 2012.
The 12 steps and 60 days that it took to start a business a year ago, have now been reduced to 9 steps that can be done within 24 days.
Nacion.com reports: "This improvement in opening a business is part of the actions undertaken by the Government to facilitate procedures and which has earned the country a jump of seven places in the ranks of the Doing Business 2014 report ...".
The approved increase applies to the first half of 2014.
"The amount approved by the National Wages Council factors in projected inflation of 2.47%, 0.77% of cumulative inflation for the first half of this year and the adjustment for GDP growth in the last five years (0.54%)," says Patricia Recio in Nacion.com.
Entrepreneurs had proposed an increase of 3.60%, unions 3.96% and agriculturalists 3.24%.
Lack of maintenance on drains has caused a main road in San Jose to close and engineering blunders have aggravated the situation, seriously affecting the country's economy.
A clogged drain under a major road in the capital of Costa Rica, along which 60,000 vehicles drive every day, caused water to overflow from the pipe and brought down part of a slope which forms the foundation of the road there.
The business sector in Costa Rica has withdrawn its support for the draft reform of the Labor Code, stating that it does not promote social peace in the country.
The employers, represented by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprises (Uccaep), explained that the text of the bill contains "the elimination of all regulation of strikes in essential services such as security, health and energy.
They demand a productivity evaluation of public employees in Costa Rica, and a reform to the Civil Service Statute.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprises (UCCAEP):
The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprises (UCCAEP), is asking for the public administration to make reforms, as soon as possible, to the Civil Service Statute to incorporate productivity studies on the tasks performed by public employees in order to improve the quality of goods and services provided by the state.
A ruling by the Constitutional Court has enabled the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad to buy 140 MW from private generators.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprises (UCCAEP):
The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprises (UCCAEP) applauds the decision by judges at the Constitutional Court to reject outright the claim of unconstitutionality which sought to stop the tender for 140 MW which the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) carried out in order to buy from private generators.
Macroeconomic indicators revised by the Central Bank reveal a sharp slowdown in export processing zones, industry and agriculture.
Elfinancierocr.com reports that "during the first quarter economic growth has been practically nil. With the adjustment, the variation of the Monthly Index of Economic Activity (MIEA) for the first four months of the year is 0.2%. A year earlier growth was 1.4%. "
Business leaders from American countries have agreed to establish a business representation entity ahead of the Summit of Heads of State of the hemisphere.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations in the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
The aim is to inform the Summit of Heads of State of the business sector's vision on issues such as free trade, infrastructure, and institutional competitiveness.
The business sector is calling on Congress to pass the bill which charges a 30% tax on interest gained by speculative capital.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations in the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP) is urging MPs to approve, as soon as possible, the bill which levies a 30% tax on interest earned on speculative capital, which was ruled on in February by the Committee on Financial Affairs.
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