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Published Wednesday, March 17, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The deputies of the Special Tourism Commission approved bill No.22.405 that allows owners of tourism companies to apply reductions in the working hours of their employees.
According to Congress, the goal is to avoid layoffs in the tourism sector that has been affected by the pandemic.
Employers will be able to cut down the working hours of their employees, thereby reducing operating costs. This option to reduce the working hours of employees will be allowed for 12 months as long as the country continues under the Declaration of a National Health Emergency due to the pandemic.
To obtain this benefit, the company must be registered in the Costa Rican Tourism Institute database. And must demonstrate that the company's income continues to be reduced due to the pandemic.
That means that a company must verify the decrease of at least 20% of the gross income due to the restrictions that the government has ordered to try to contain the contagion of covid-19.
Company owners can not apply this reduction on working hours in the case of pregnant women or women in the breastfeeding period.
Companies that can opt for the salary adjustment benefit are hotels, non-traditional lodging, tour operators, tourist agencies, tourist transport, car rental companies, handicraft sales, casinos, airport stores, among others.
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Should the government withdraw all restrictions to allow tourism companies to recover? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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