Countries › Costa Rica › Guide › 7. Labor and employment › Labour claims, inspections and fines in Costa Rica: one year to sue, fines of 1 to 23 salarios base and conciliation under the Reforma Procesal Laboral

Labour claims, inspections and fines in Costa Rica: one year to sue, fines of 1 to 23 salarios base and conciliation under the Reforma Procesal Laboral

Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Stable

Since the Reforma Procesal Laboral (Ley 9343) took effect on 26 July 2017, labour fines in Costa Rica are set in six bands from one to twenty three salarios base, which in 2026 means ₡462,200 to ₡10,630,600, and breaches of prohibitive rules start at the third band. Workers have one year after the contract ends to claim, while employers have one month to discipline. Conciliation before the MTSS is voluntary and pauses the clock, and workers on low incomes get free state legal aid.

USD figures use the Banco Central de Costa Rica reference selling rate of ₡454.82 per US dollar published for 29 October 2026 (indicator 318 on bccr.fi.cr), rounded to the cent. Fines use the 2026 salario base of ₡462,200 (Circular 246-2025 of the Consejo Superior del Poder Judicial, under Ley 7337 art. 2).

Key facts

Salario base for fines (2026)	462200 CRCCircular 246-2025; Ley 7337 art. 2, as of 2026-01-01 · in force
Maximum labour fine	23 salarios baseCódigo de Trabajo art. 398, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Prescription of worker claims after termination	1 yearsCódigo de Trabajo art. 413, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Prescription of worker claims after termination	1 yearsCódigo de Trabajo art. 413, as of 2026-10-29 · in force

The rule

1. Labour offences are fined in six bands: 1 to 3, 4 to 7, 8 to 11, 12 to 15, 16 to 19 and 20 to 23 salarios base, the salario base being that of Ley 7337 art. 2.
Cost to do it: In 2026 one salario base is ₡462,200.
Example: Band 6 maximum: 23 x ₡462,200 = ₡10,630,600. / About US$23,373.20.Ley 2, Código de Trabajo, as reformed by Ley 9343, art. 398, 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

2. Liability of individuals is subjective and of legal entities objective; sanctions for conduct of a representative of an employer company or economic group extend jointly to it.Ley 2, Código de Trabajo, as reformed by Ley 9343, art. 399, 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

3. Breaches of prohibitive rules of the Código de Trabajo or labour and social security laws are fined from band 3 (8 to 11 salarios base) up; refusing reports or documents requested by labour authorities after a fifteen day warning is fined in band 1.
Example: Band 3: ₡3,697,600 to ₡5,084,200. / About US$8,129.81 to US$11,178.49.Ley 2, Código de Trabajo, as reformed by Ley 9343, art. 400, 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

4. Fines are graded by gravity, consequences, number of offences and workers affected, and may be reduced if the offender promptly repairs the damage in full.Ley 2, Código de Trabajo, as reformed by Ley 9343, art. 401, 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

5. Worker claims from employment contracts prescribe one year after the contract ends; the period is interrupted by a request for the dismissal letter, an MTSS conciliation request, an INS claim for occupational risks or any collection step, and does not run while the worker stays with the same employer.Ley 2, Código de Trabajo, as reformed by Ley 9343, art. 413, 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

6. The employer's right to dismiss or discipline prescribes one month after the cause or knowledge of it; a worker's right to resign with cause prescribes in six months.Ley 2, Código de Trabajo, as reformed by Ley 9343, art. 414 and art. 416, 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

7. Workers whose last or current monthly income does not exceed two salarios base of the auxiliar administrativo post under the 2015 budget law receive free legal aid paid by the State through specialised public defenders; the limit does not apply to mothers, minors or discrimination cases.Ley 2, Código de Trabajo, as reformed by Ley 9343, art. 454, 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

8. Conciliation, mediation and arbitration are preferred; courts must promote settlement, and out of court settlements before MTSS mediators or a dispute resolution centre with the worker assisted by a lawyer or union representative may not waive non waivable rights. Conciliation before the MTSS is optional and interrupts prescription for up to three months.Ley 2, Código de Trabajo, as reformed by Ley 9343, art. 456, art. 457 and art. 459, 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

9. The Reforma Procesal Laboral was published in La Gaceta 16 (Alcance 6) on 25 January 2016 and took effect on 26 July 2017.Ley 9343, Reforma Procesal Laboral, whole law (SCIJ record), 2016-01-25 official text · verified 2026-10-29

10. The 2026 salario base is ₡462,200, applying from 1 January 2026 to all laws that refer to Ley 7337.Circular 246-2025, Consejo Superior del Poder Judicial (session 113-2025), Ley 7337 art. 2, 2025-12-17 official text · verified 2026-10-29

Band	Salarios base	CRC	USD
1	1 to 3	₡462,200 to ₡1,386,600	US$1,016.23 to US$3,048.68
2	4 to 7	₡1,848,800 to ₡3,235,400	US$4,064.90 to US$7,113.58
3	8 to 11	₡3,697,600 to ₡5,084,200	US$8,129.81 to US$11,178.49
4	12 to 15	₡5,546,400 to ₡6,933,000	US$12,194.71 to US$15,243.39
5	16 to 19	₡7,395,200 to ₡8,781,800	US$16,259.62 to US$19,308.30
6	20 to 23	₡9,244,000 to ₡10,630,600	US$20,324.52 to US$23,373.20

Labour fine bands (Código de Trabajo art. 398) at the 2026 salario base of ₡462,200

Worked example

An employer fined at the bottom of band 3 for breaching a prohibitive rule pays 8 x ₡462,200 = ₡3,697,600 (US$8,129.81), which it may reduce by repairing the damage in full immediately (art. 401).

Step by step

Answer labour inspectorate requests within the fifteen day warning period.
Keep payroll, contracts, overtime and vacation records for at least the prescription period.
Consider MTSS conciliation early; settlements must respect non waivable rights.
Diary one year from each termination as the main claim window.

Common traps

The salario base changes every 1 January, so fines rise with it.
Settlements that waive non waivable rights (minimum wage, vacation, aguinaldo) are void (art. 457).
A company is liable objectively for its managers' labour offences (art. 399).

Sources

← Workplace harassment, discrimination and occupational safety in Costa Rica: Ley 7476 policies, the three month procedure and health committeesVisas and residence in Costa Rica: the three migration categories, who may work and how long each status lasts →

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