Q COSTA RICA — Monday, August 31, is a holiday in Costa Rica, celebrating “Día de la Persona Negra y la Cultura Afrocostarricense” (Black People’s Day and Afro-Costa Rican Culture).
The holiday is non-obligatory, so every worker has the right to take the day off, no matter what job they have.
That is, no one has to work on August 31st unless they want to. If they choose not to, they can’t be punished for it. If they do, salary payment will depend on the payment method used by the company.
Companies that pay weekly in non-commercial activities and only recognize days actually worked should not include the holiday in the salary if the employee does not work that day. If you work on August 31st, you must be paid the corresponding day’s wages. If you also work overtime, it must be paid at time and a half.
On the other hand, those who receive a monthly or bi-weekly salary, as well as workers in commercial establishments who are paid weekly, have the holiday included in their regular pay. In these cases, if the person works on August 31st, the company must add a day’s regular pay, so that the holiday is paid at double time. If you also work overtime during the holiday, it must be paid at time and a half on top of the double pay, which is equivalent to triple pay for those hours.
The Ministry of Labor clarified that these provisions apply regardless of whether the company is national, transnational, or international, as long as it has employees working in Costa Rica.
The holiday is also not transferable; that is, the holiday can’t be transferred to another day—it’s fixed specifically on Monday, August 31.
Holidays in Costa Rica
Costa Rica recognizes 12 official national holidays under Article 148 of its Labor Code, of which nine are Mandatory Pay Holidays (Feriados de Pago Obligatorio) and three Non-Mandatory Pay Holidays (Feriados de Pago No Obligatorio), which dictate how employees are legally compensated.
Mandatory Pay Holidays
For these days, employees receive a regular paid day off. If they agree to work, employers must legally pay them double pay.
- January 1: New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo)
- March/April (Variable): Holy Thursday (Jueves Santo)
- March/April (Variable): Good Friday (Viernes Santo)
- April 11: Juan Santamaría Day (Día de Juan Santamaría)
- May 1: Labor Day (Día del Trabajo)
- July 25: Annexation of Nicoya/Guanacaste Day (Anexión del Partido de Nicoya)
- August 15: Mother’s Day & Assumption of Mary (Día de la Madre)
- September 15: Independence Day (Día de la Independencia)
- December 25: Christmas Day (Navidad)
Non-Mandatory Pay Holidays
On these days, all workers are entitled to a day off, but compensation depends strictly on the payroll structure.
- August 2: Virgin of Los Ángeles Day (Día de la Virgen de los Ángeles)
- August 31: Day of the Black Person and Afro-Costa Rican Culture
- December 1: Army Abolition Day (Día de la Abolición del Ejército)