Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Costa Rica (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee notes that section 14(c) of the Labour Code excludes agricultural or stock-raising enterprises which occupy no more than five permanent workers. In this respect, the Committee reminds the Government that under Article 2 of the Convention all workers, without distinction whatsoever, have the right to establish and to join organizations of their own choosing.

On this matter, the Committee requests the Government to inform it of any measures adopted to ensure that agricultural workers enjoy the right of association.

The Committee also notes the comments of the Costa Rican Inter-Confederal Committee regarding the restriction on trade union organizations by the Ministry of Labour when preparing its own Constitution, obtaining legal personality and conducting trade-union activities, including strikes (a situation noted, for instance, in the Association of Footballers of Costa Rica and the Workers' Union of the Institute for Agricultural Development).

The Committee requests the Government to send its observations on the matters raised.