Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) - Costa Rica (Ratification: 1972)

The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government in its report.

Part VII (Family benefit), Article 44 of the Convention. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government refers to the legislative provisions (section 4 of Act No. 5662 of 23 December 1974 and section 2 of Act No. 4760 of 30 April 1971) under which financial assistance is provided to low-income families. The Committee observes that these provisions do not address the contingency covered by Part VII, Article 40, of the Convention, namely “responsibility for the maintenance of children as prescribed”. Family benefit is a benefit to be provided to living insured persons protected by the social security scheme. This being the case, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate, with reference to the information requested in the report form, whether the total value of the benefits granted to the persons protected (i.e. the total amount of periodic cash benefits provided to families with dependent children, and the cost of providing food and clothing in various rural centres) is such as to represent, in accordance with Article 44: (a) 3 per cent of the wage of an ordinary adult male labourer, as determined in accordance with the rules laid down in Article 66, multiplied by the total number of children of the persons protected; or (b) 1.5 per cent of the said wage, multiplied by the total number of children of all residents.

Part XIV (Miscellaneous provisions), Article 76, paragraph 1(b)(ii), of the Convention (in conjunction with Article 36). With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government. It notes in particular that the minimum monthly periodical payment for total permanent incapacity is equivalent to 117,014.00 colones. It requests the Government to provide the information requested under Article 66 (Titles I, II and IV) of the report form adopted by the Governing Body in respect of employment injury benefit (Part VI) of the Convention.