By San José, Costa Rica — In a coordinated effort to defend one of Costa Rica’s most pivotal economic and labor modernizations in recent years, three major private-sector organizations have formally joined the ongoing constitutional review of the proposed four-day workweek bill. The Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (CICR), the Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), and the Association of Free Trade Zone Enterprises of Costa Rica (AZOFRAS) filed a joint legal motion known as a coadyuvancia before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, widely referred to as Sala IV. The motion aims to assist the magistrates in evaluating the bill’s constitutionality following its initial approval in a first debate by the Legislative Assembly.
The proposed legislation, known locally as the 4×3 workweek reform, seeks to establish a voluntary flexible work model allowing companies to implement twelve-hour shifts across four consecutive working days in exchange for three mandatory rest days each week. Proponents stress that this framework is essential for modernizing the national labor code to better align with international manufacturing, advanced technology, and high-tech continuous service operations that require continuous 24/7 operating cycles.
To better understand the legal and operational implications of Costa Rica’s 4×3 workweek reform, TicosLand.com spoke with expert lawyer Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who shared his analysis on how this legislative change will impact both employers and foreign investors.
The 4×3 workweek reform represents a vital modernization of Costa Rica’s labor code, aligning our regulatory framework with the demands of continuous global manufacturing and technology operations. While it grants companies unprecedented operational flexibility, businesses must ensure strict compliance with health, safety, and wage standards to prevent constitutional challenges and safeguard employee welfare.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Navigating this modernization will undoubtedly require employers to balance economic competitiveness with rigorous employee protections to ensure the reform’s long-term success. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his invaluable legal insights on this pivotal topic for Costa Rica’s future.
By intervening before the Constitutional Chamber, the business chambers intend to provide technical and legal backing against several procedural and substantive constitutional challenges brought forth by opposing legislators and civil society representatives. The joint filing systematically refutes allegations of procedural irregularities in Congress while emphasizing that clear rules are indispensable for providing economic predictability and legal certainty to foreign and domestic investors.
Central to the business chambers’ legal defense is the detailed justification of proposed statutory provisions, specifically Articles 143 Bis and 145 Bis. These articles define the operational parameter limits of expanded daily working hours, governing essential areas such as daily rest periods, overtime calculations, special wage premiums, and explicit legal safeguards guaranteeing workers’ personal privacy and work-life balance.
The lack of a clear legal framework for these work modalities constitutes a historical debt to the productive sector, affecting competitiveness, limiting employment opportunities, and discouraging investment in strategic national activities.
Joint Legal Brief, CICR, AmCham, and AZOFRAS
From an industrial perspective, modernizing shift structures addresses longstanding legal ambiguities that have complicated operational planning for advanced manufacturing and export companies. Current Costa Rican labor legislation relies on rigid daily shift maximums designed in the mid-twentieth century, forcing modern international enterprises to navigate complex workforce management practices that often increase operational costs and reduce scheduling predictability for employees.
Furthermore, leaders across the export and industrial sectors emphasize that global foreign direct investment decisions increasingly depend on modern, adaptable labor laws. As regional competitors in Latin America and global tech hubs update their statutory frameworks, Costa Rica risks losing strategic investments if its statutory regulations remain inflexible. Representatives argue that adopting the 4×3 shift framework directly impacts the nation’s capacity to generate high-value employment opportunities and attract foreign capital.
As Sala IV reviews the legal briefs and conducts its constitutional analysis, the private sector remains focused on the judicial outcome, which will determine when the Legislative Assembly can proceed to a final second-vote reading. A favorable ruling from the constitutional court would mark a decisive step toward enacting flexible labor reforms while upholding core worker protections across the country.
For further information, visit cicr.com
About Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica:
The Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (CICR) represents the national industrial sector, advocating for policies that foster economic competitiveness, industrial development, and sustainable job growth across manufacturing and commercial industries in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit amcham.cr
About Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce:
The Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) promotes trade, investment, and economic ties between Costa Rica and the United States, representing diverse business enterprises focused on commercial growth and regulatory transparency.
For further information, visit azofras.or.cr
About Association of Free Trade Zone Enterprises of Costa Rica:
The Association of Free Trade Zone Enterprises of Costa Rica (AZOFRAS) serves companies operating under the national Free Trade Zone regime, driving economic development, technological integration, and foreign direct investment attraction.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Renowned for its unyielding ethical standards and superior legal advocacy, Bufete de Costa Rica continues to shape the legal landscape through progressive strategies and client-centered solutions. Drawing upon a rich history of serving varied industries, the practice consistently integrates modern legal methodologies with meaningful public initiatives. By actively demystifying complex legal principles and sharing critical resources, Bufete de Costa Rica advances its foundational goal of cultivating an enlightened, self-reliant, and legally aware populace.
