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Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Costa Rica (RATIFICATION: 1960)

The Committee notes the detailed observations of the Confederation of Workers Rerum Novarum (CTRN), received on 31 August 2019, as well as the joint observations of the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprises (UCCAEP) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), received on 2 September 2019, all of which relate to issues addressed by the Committee in this comment. The Committee notes the Government’s reply to the observations of the UCCAEP and the IOE and requests it to provide its comments in relation to the observations of the CTRN.

In its latest comment, the Committee took note of the adoption of the Labour Proceedings Reform Act No. 9343 and noted with satisfaction that the Act amended the percentage of workers required to declare a strike. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, in November 2017, Executive Decree No. 40749 was issued, which regulates the call to vote required in order to exercise the right to strike, in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Proceedings Reform Act.

Pending legislative issues. Articles 2 and 4 of the Convention. The Committee recalls that for years its comments have referred to the following issues:

• -Registration of trade unions and acquisition of legal personality. The Committee indicated to the Government the need to amend section 344 of the Labour Code to establish a short, specific period for the administrative authority to reach a decision on the registration of trade unions, after which, in the absence of a decision, they are deemed to have obtained legal personality. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that, although this situation has been remedied both in practice and in administrative law, the Committee’s comments will be taken into account.
• -Right of organizations freely to elect their representatives. Obligation for the trade union assembly to appoint the executive board each year (section 346(a) of the Labour Code). The Committee has drawn the attention of the Government to the need to amend section 346(a) of the Labour Code, which requires the executive board of trade unions to be appointed every year. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that although this article has not been amended, the Register of Civil Organizations does not apply this provision and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in practice, guarantees organizations full autonomy in determining the term of their executive boards.
• -Prohibition on foreigners from holding office or exercising authority in trade unions (article 60(2) of the Constitution and section 345(e) of the Labour Code). The Committee indicated to the Government the need to amend article 60(2) of the Constitution and section 345(e) of the Labour Code, which prohibit foreigners from holding office or exercising authority in trade unions. The Committee recalls that a proposed constitutional reform had been submitted to the plenary of the Legislative Assembly to resolve this issue (legislative file No. 17804). The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the above-mentioned proposed constitutional reform was shelved on 17 October 2018. The Government indicates that this decision followed a decision made by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, who ordered that bills that had exceeded the four-year deadline on that date should be shelved, in conformity with section 119 of the Regulations of the Legislative Assembly. The Government also indicates that it will undertake an assessment to consider the submission of a new constitutional reform proposal in the terms referred to by the Committee. The Government adds that, in practice, the Department of Civil Organizations in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security registers the appointment of foreigners to the executive bodies of trade unions when it is demonstrated that they comply with the legal requirements.

Observing that no specific progress has been made in relation to the matters indicated, the Committee once again requests the Government to take all necessary measures to amend the above-mentioned provisions of the Labour Code and the Constitution in conformity with the Convention, as well as with the practice followed by the authorities. It requests the Government to provide information on developments in this respect.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.