Costa Rica
Find out key information relating to Costa Rica’s leave entitlements
Leave entitlement & working time regulations at a glance
Minimum Holiday Entitlement
2 weeks after 50 weeks of work
Public Holidays
11 per year
Parental Leave
Maternity leave is 4 months (paid); paternity leave depends on specific agreements
Working Week
48 hours (full time)
Sick Leave Entitlement
Paid sick leave up to 3 months with social security coverage
Region
LATAM
ABSENCE & LEAVE
Additional information
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.