3.65% Private Employee Salary Increase - 2013

The Consejo Nacional de Salaries has fixed the increase in the nation's minimum wages at 3.65% as of January 1, 2013. The decision closely parallels the proposal that was advanced Monday by employers and Tuesday by the central Government.
The Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social estimated that the decision affects 1.2 million workers, about 85% of the labor force.

Sandra Piszk, the minister, said on the agency's Web page that the Consejo uses a new methodology to arrive at the figure. A policy established in 1998 that recognized just the increase in the cost of living has been changed to a policy that seeks to redistribute the wealth of the country, she said.

The increase is more than the 2.47% estimated inflation for the last 6 months of 2012. Ms. Piszk said that the increase is the largest in the last 2 years when pay hikes ranged from 2.63 to 3.17%.

The minimum salaries are different for various occupations, and the ministry's Departimento de Salarios (2-256-2251) will post the new salaries on its website - www.mtss.go.cr/salarios-minimos.html (note you MUST add the www. first or it won't come up [I think many of the webmasters doing most of the governments websites were not taught properly in this instance of web design]) -  before the first pay period in January. The new wages go into effect January 1, 2013.

SOURCE:  AMCostaRica.com  October 24, 2012