Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

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

The Committee recalls that in its previous direct request it asked the Government to ensure that the labour inspectorate carries out inspections in the pineapple and banana sector to ensure the respect of trade union rights, including in plantations where there are solidarista associations. In this respect, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that cases of violations of trade union rights in this sector are duly identified in the Labour Inspection and Administration Case System (SILAC), now maintained by the National Directorate of the Labour Inspectorate (DNI). The Committee notes the statistical data provided by the Government and observes that the labour inspectorate dealt with a total of three cases of trade union persecution between 2015 and 2016 in the pineapple and banana sector. The Committee also notes that over 80 per cent of the DNI’s interventions in the pineapple sector arose of the DNI’s own initiative, and did not arise from complaints. The Committee further notes that the infringements most often identified in pineapple cultivation are related to the minimum wage, payslips and overtime, as well as social security and occupational risk insurance. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the inspections carried out in the pineapple and banana sector, and on the complaints of violations of trade union rights in this sector.