Legislators on Monday, one day after the celebration of the 71st anniversary of the abolition of the army, passed the bill declaring December 1 “Día de la Abolición del Ejército”, a non-compulsory pay holiday.
This bill, receiving 47 (of 55) votes, promoted by Deputy Wagner Jiménez, of the National Liberation Party (PLN), consists of a reform to article 148 of the Labor Code to include December 1 as a holiday, commemorating the abolition of the army in 1948.
The reforms maintains the compulsory pay holidays of:
- January 1 – New YearDay
- April 11 – Juan Santamaria Day
- Thursday and Holy Friday of Semana Santa (varies each year)
- May 1 – Labor Day
- July 25 – Anexión del Partido de Nicoya or Guanacaste Day
- August 15 – Mother’s Day
- September 15 – Independence Day
- December 25 – Christmas Day
August 2 will continue to be a non-compulsory pay holiday, while the October 12 – Encuentro de Culturas, also a non-mandatory payment holiday, will only be in the central canton of Limón.
The bill was approved in first debate. To become law it requires passing in second debate and the signature of the president.
