The Cámara de Industrias de Costa Rica (CICR) – Costa Rica’s Chamber of Industries – said that the monthly income of some 2.300 officials at the state light and power company, the Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz ( CNFL ) averages more than ¢2 million (US$4.000).
Costa Rica’s industrialists are requesting an audit of the company, a subsidiary of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) to evaluate the fairness and efficiency of a payroll that seems to be onerous and disproportionate for the reality of the country.
The CICR says that the salary structure is affecting electricity rates that include a 9.2% increase for 2013.
Electricity rates have risen sharply in recent years and affect not only industry but Costa Ricans in general. In the industrial sector, companies cite it as the primary factor adversely affecting their ability to compete.
Strong industrial growth is not foreseen for 2013, and if electricity prices rise the situation for industry may be even more troubling.