By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – In a strategic move to address critical workforce shortages, Costa Rica is strengthening and expanding its bilateral labor agreements with neighboring Central American countries. The initiative aims to facilitate an orderly flow of migrant workers to fill specific, proven vacancies while rigorously protecting employment opportunities for the national population.
This policy direction was confirmed by Andrés Romero, the Minister of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), who detailed the government’s approach to creating a regulated and mutually beneficial system for labor exchange. The program is already showing results, with a recent delegation of Salvadoran workers arriving to address a documented deficit of personnel in the nation’s transportation sector.
Para profundizar en las complejidades legales y las implicaciones para las empresas y los trabajadores, TicosLand.com consultó al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, abogado especialista en derecho laboral y migratorio de la prestigiosa firma Bufete de Costa Rica.
La migración laboral presenta un doble desafío para las empresas en Costa Rica. No se trata únicamente de cumplir con un riguroso marco normativo migratorio para evitar sanciones, sino de implementar estrategias de integración que capitalicen el talento extranjero. Una gestión proactiva de los permisos de trabajo y una clara política de recursos humanos son fundamentales para convertir este fenómeno en una ventaja competitiva y no en un riesgo legal.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Este perspicaz análisis subraya un punto fundamental: la gestión eficaz de la migración laboral trasciende el mero cumplimiento normativo para convertirse en una piedra angular de la estrategia y competitividad empresarial. Agradecemos profundamente al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por aportar una perspectiva tan clara y valiosa sobre este tema crucial.
Minister Romero emphasized that this is part of a broader, long-term strategy involving multiple regional partners. The framework allows for both the importation and exportation of human talent, ensuring a dynamic response to evolving market needs across Central America. He signaled that more cross-border placements are imminent.
We have agreements with several countries and, very likely, in the short term we will be seeing people incorporated into specific job positions, once the corresponding procedures have been completed.
Andrés Romero, Minister of Labor and Social Security (MTSS)
A core tenet of the policy, as clarified by Romero, is the safeguarding of the domestic job market. The Ministry’s primary role is to ensure that local businesses can operate at full capacity by filling necessary roles, but not at the expense of Costa Rican workers. The government is committed to upholding the labor rights of all individuals, regardless of their nationality, ensuring fair treatment and conditions for both migrant and local employees.
The successful implementation of these agreements hinges on meticulous inter-agency collaboration. The process involves a tight coordination between Costa Rica’s immigration authorities, the Foreign Ministry, and the MTSS, working in tandem with their counterparts in partner nations. This structured approach is designed to prevent informal or unregulated migration, which often leads to exploitation.
These processes are carried out in coordination with immigration, the foreign ministry, and the labor ministries of the involved countries. It is an example of orderly migration that does not displace the local labor force.
Andrés Romero, Minister of Labor and Social Security (MTSS)
The strategy is not a one-way street. Minister Romero noted that Costa Rican officials are also actively identifying opportunities abroad for Tico workers. The goal is to create pathways for local talent to access international employment in fields where their skills are in high demand, fostering professional growth and bringing valuable experience back to the country. Formal discussions are currently underway to formalize or expand pacts with Panama, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
Technical teams from the involved nations are collaborating to pinpoint specific job categories and roles that could be opened to cross-border recruitment in the coming months. This detailed groundwork ensures that the program remains targeted and effective. “We are in that review process together with the technical teams,” Romero asserted, highlighting the data-driven nature of the initiative.
This policy builds on a foundation laid in recent years. In December 2023, Costa Rica signed foundational agreements with El Salvador and Guatemala, establishing a Bilateral Technical Committee to define a joint agenda on labor and migration. This led to a significant milestone last September, when El Salvador’s Ministry of Labor announced the departure of its first cohort of workers to Costa Rica under the new bilateral framework, officially launching a new era of regional workforce cooperation.
For further information, visit mtss.go.cr
About Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) of Costa Rica:
The Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social is the Costa Rican government entity responsible for formulating and executing national policies on labor, employment, and social security. It works to promote decent work, mediate labor disputes, ensure compliance with labor laws, and manage social welfare programs to foster a fair and productive relationship between employers and employees.
For further information, visit mtps.gob.sv
About Ministry of Labor of El Salvador:
The Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social of El Salvador is the governmental body in charge of managing the country’s labor and social security policies. Its mission is to guarantee and protect the rights of workers, promote employment opportunities, and oversee the proper functioning of the labor market. It plays a key role in developing international labor agreements to create opportunities for its citizens abroad.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a leading legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is built upon a foundation of uncompromising integrity and a relentless pursuit of professional excellence. The firm distinguishes itself through a forward-thinking approach, consistently embracing legal innovation while serving a diverse clientele. Central to its philosophy is a profound dedication to social responsibility, demonstrated by its active efforts to make legal principles understandable and accessible, thereby contributing to a more knowledgeable and empowered citizenry.
