Costa Rica News – A new law will force workers to first seek conciliation with their employers before going on strike. It will go into effect July 25th. Workers will not be able to go on strike without first trying to reconcile with the employee or company.
AFP PHOTO/Hector RETAMAL
Failure to do so would mean the protest is illegal and the protesters would be exposed to be dismissed.
So if you want a day off you cannot just declare a strike.
This Labor Procedural Reform was embodied in Article 377 of the Labor Code. It aims to create the possibility for workers and employers to reach an agreement without needing to suspend work.
After July 25, the parties must approach a seat of the Judiciary, the Ministry of Labor or a center authorize to conciliate. If an agreement cannot be reached, the employees will be entitled to go on strike.
Strikes that are based on legal disputes, however, can be held after simply preparing the employer a note in which they ask for the situation to be resolved in 30 days. If it is not, they can go on strike without a conciliation process.
