Additional leave compliance rules and complexities

Annual leave

Once an employee’s been in continuous employment for 50 weeks or more, they’re entitled to 12 days’ paid leave a year, in addition to 2 days of rest.

Sick leave

Employers pay 50% of each of employees’ sick pay for the first 3 days of sickness absence. From the fourth day of sick leave, the employer no longer provides any sick pay, but social security then pays 60% of an employee’s salary.

Maternity and paternity leave

Employers also share maternity leave payments with the Costa Rican Social Security fund. Mothers get 4 months’ parental leave on full pay – 1 month prenatal, and 3 months after the birth. Fathers are not entitled to paternity leave, and there are no statutory laws for shared parental leave either.