Labor Ministry

The salary increase for 2017 followed the approval of a new calculation methodology that National Wage Council member said will benefit workers.

Private-sector workers receiving minimum monthly wage will receive a 0.5 percent hike starting July 1.

Labor Minister Víctor Morales resigned Tuesday amid growing criticism over the hiring of his niece for a job at the ministry, a violation of a code of ethics that he helped promote.

A total of 147 workers this week filed Labor Ministry claims against employers over problems with Christmas bonuses, known in Costa Rica as aguinaldos. According to Costa Rica labor laws, the deadline for aguinaldo payments was Dec. 20.

Costa Rican Labor Minister Víctor Morales on Monday introduced a new government incentives program for companies willing to hire workers from segments of the population who generally have more difficulty finding jobs. The program will give companies a $2,680 bonus for each new worker they hire from pre-defined groups.

Government representatives will meet next week with union leaders and employers to vote on a final amount.

According to the Ombudsman's Office, the number of complaints at public agencies increased from 82 in 2008 to 276 in 2011. The top targets of those complaints were doctors, teachers and police at the Social Security System, Education Ministry and Public Security Ministry, respectively.

Costa Rica registers the lowest number of child workers in Central America, the International Labour Organization reported on Friday, although the agency said more efforts are needed to keep kids in school.