At the beginning of each year, it is important to keep in mind the holidays that all Costa Rican workers will have, and the dates on which they will be in effect. In Costa Rica, since 2020, to promote the reactivation of tourism, some holidays have been transferred to Mondays. The purpose of these transfers is to have the “long weekends”, and with them the encouragement of domestic tourism and the economic reactivation of many areas of the country.

As we know, holidays in our country, besides being a right of the workers, are mandatory and no worker can be forced to work on these dates unless there is a common agreement between the employer and the worker. If any worker performs his job on those days, the employer must recognize the double payment. All this regardless of whether they are national or international companies.

The following is a list of the holidays for 2023, the dates, and the due transfer in the corresponding cases:

1. New Year’s Day – Sunday, January 1st
2. Holy Days – Thursday, April 6th, and Friday, April 7th
3. The Rivas Battle – Tuesday, April 11th. (Transfer: Monday, April 10th)
4. Labor Day – Monday, May 1st
5. Guanacaste Annexation – Tuesday, July 25th. (Moved: Monday, July 24th)
6. Virgen de Los Angeles Day – Wednesday, August 2nd.
7. Mother’s Day – Tuesday, August 15th. (Transfer: Monday, August 14th)
8. Day of the Black Person and Afro-Costa Rican Culture – Thursday, August 31st. (Transfer: Sunday, September 3rd)
9. Independence Day – Friday, September 15th.
10. Abolition of the Army – Friday, December 1st.
11. Christmas – Monday, December 25th.

It is also important to say that, from the above-mentioned list, the following are non-mandatory holidays:

– Virgen de Los Angeles Day
– Day of the Black Person and the Afro-Costa Rican Culture.
– Abolition of the Army

As mentioned above, it is important to keep these dates in mind and to have good legal advice in labor matters, for any inconvenience that may arise as a worker. For example, the non-double payment of a worked holiday, or a situation in which an employer wants to force his employee to work on a holiday without a common agreement.

If you require more information or any type of legal assistance in this matter, at ERP Lawyers we have a team of experts to assist you in the subject. Do not hesitate to contact us at the following e-mail: info@erplawyers.com