Costa Rica: Salary Increase Approved for the Private Sector for Second Semester of 2016

On June 15, 2016, Costa Rica’s National Wages Council (“Consejo Nacional de Salarios”) approved a 0.5% increase to the minimum wage for all private sector employees, except for domestic workers whose salaries will be increased by 2%.  This salary increase will be effective on July 1, 2016.

Private sector employers are mandated to increase the wages only for employees whose salary is at the minimum wage level. For all other employees, any salary adjustment is voluntary.

Once the increase is published on the Official Gazette, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security will publish the list of minimum wages per occupation on its official page, here, where previous lists of minimum wages remain available.  

Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.