1. STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OF LABOR LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS, BEYOND LABOR INSPECTION NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE CAMPAIGN CASE STUDY MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY OF COSTA RICA First Meeting of the Working Groups of the XIX IACML, Washington D.C. June 28-29, 2016

2. Why minimum wage?  Income from labor in Costa Rica represents roughly 80% of total household income.  Adequate employment is crucial for an individual and a family’s future  Not only should we create job positions but we must also ensure that it is quality employment.  Article 57 of the Political Constitution: “Every worker has the right to a minimum and periodic salary per normal work hours, which should provide welfare and a decent living.”  Article 177: “Every worker has the right to a minimum wage that is set periodically and covers his normal household needs in every moral, material and cultural sense.”

3. National Minimum Wage Campaign  Developed between August 2010 – December 2013  2 types of actions:  Information diffusion and advice to workers and patrons in labor issues. Focalized inspections in minimum wage.  Inspections that target companies that failed to comply based on household surveys, CCSS registries, complaints, etc.  Intervention from the Inspector:  On site Inspection:  Initial visit to detect infraction  Warning in case it was detected  Revision visit  Complaint before courts in case non-compliance persists.  Documentary inspection  Non-compliance is detected through revising the companies’ documents (payroll from CCSS, Work Risk Insurance, payment vouchers)

4. Minimum Wage campaign pieces

5. Campaign’s most important data  38, 465 focalized inspections on compliance with minimum wage.  60, 2 % complied y 39,8 %did not comply with paying the minimum wage.

6. Campaign’s most important data  Protected the rights of 201, 735 salary-earning private sector workers. 16,5%

7. Campaign’s most important data  77,9% of patrons accepted the provisions.  In the cases that the employer did not comply, they filed a complaint with the courts.

8. Lessons Learned  Strengthening labor rights compliance culture requires an effective program for divulgation and promotion of labor rights. More investment is necessary in prevention.  Labor rights compliance sustainability depends largely on productivity for some businesses. This is why it is necessary for improvement actions to include the Ministry of Economy, Development Bank, and Vocational Training, among other social partners.  Inspections continue to be an efficient and effective mechanism for the restitution of worker’s rights.  Labor Rights promotion campaigns must include its goals in their annual operational plans as a form of commitment for compliance and financing.