After the approval in second legislative debate of the law authorizing employers to suspend, from the first day of demonstration, the payment of wages to public servants who go on strike, the file will go to the President, Carlos Alvarado.
The Plenary Session of the Legislative Assembly approved, with 35 deputies in favor and 13 against, in its second and final debate, Bill 21,049, which will regulate strikes by establishing new rules so that workers can exercise this right, the Legislative Assembly reported.
After listening to the observations made by Chamber IV, the deputies approved in first debate the law authorizing employers to suspend, from the first day of demonstration, the payment of wages to civil servants who go on strike.
In Costa Rica, the Congress approved in first debate a bill that authorizes employers to suspend, from the first day of demonstration, the payment of wages to public sector workers who are on strike.
The Legislative Assembly voted in the first debate on file 21049, a law to provide legal security about the strike and its procedures, which seeks to eliminate the exaggerated privileges that employees of state entities have when they decree and execute a strike in the public sector, the Legislative Assembly informed on Tuesday, September 3.
The Supreme Court has ruled to leave in place the veto of the Law known as the Labor Procedure Reform, which allowed strikes to be called on essential services such as ports, hospitals and public transportation.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations in the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
- Business Sector considers it to be a benefit to all Costa Ricans
The Government has issued an Executive Order which details the services that will be defined and the procedure to be followed to ensure the continuity of their delivery of services to the population.
After the lifting of the veto of the Act amending the Labour Procedure Code, which enabled strikes in essential services, president Solis has issued a decree which will be in force until the aforementioned Reform Act comes into force in mid-2016.
Despite widespread opposition from all productive sectors in the country, President Solis has lifted the ban on reforms to the law on labor procedures imposed by the previous administration.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
Lifting of veto outrages and concerns business sector
A proposed amendment to the Labour Code of Costa Rica would allow for strikes with only 16% of total workers in companies whith no unions.
From a statement issued by the Union of Chambers and Associations of the private business sector (Uccaep):
UCCAEP rejects proposed amendment to the Labour Code
In regards to the new labor code reform initiative released on Monday by the parliamentary factions of the Citizen Action Party, Frente Amplio and the Social Christian Unity, UCCAEP :
Unions reject a proposal by industrialists to work 4 days and rest 3 days, whle the government describes it as a "sensitive" issue.
The Minister of Labour, Victor Morales, told Crhoy.com that "....These proposals concerning working hours require legislative amendment, they need a reform of the Labour Code to be approved in the Legislature ... I proposed to the Chamber of Industries ...
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.
Eleven business chambers are insisting that the reforms to the Labor Code incite illegal strikes.
Nacion.com reports: "The amendments were approved unanimously by the Legal Affairs Committee of Congress, on August 1st, and have already been presented to the plenary."
"The chambers are opposed to the reforms regarding strikes, unions and syndicated workers, which are strengthened at the expense of standing committees (promoted by solidarism), something that encourages protests".