www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This article in todays issue of Inside Costa Rica might give some clue as to the poor level of police services that are apparent through out the country.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Wow. I knew their pay was low, but I didn't realize it was THAT low. It's no wonder that they are always trying to take bribes, and don't want to get involved or jump into harm's way on the street.
MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Costa Rica Wages in US$

Wages in Costa Rica are much lower than in the US and Europe. It is important to take into account that the cost of living is far lower. The minimum wages stated below are estimates based the exchange rate of the Colon to US$ at January 1st 2006. For the period of January 1st till June 30th 2006 the minimum hourly wages in Costa Rica are:

Non-Qualified Worker: $1.81 hour =$3,620 year
Semi-Qualified Worker: $1.96= $3,920 year
Qualified Worker: $2.11= $4,220 year
High School level technicians $2.27 = $4,540 year
Specialized Worker $2.43= $4,860 year
College technicians $2.80= $5,600 year
Bachelor Degree $3.43= $6,860 year
Masters Degree $4.11= $8,220

The above wages cover the following sectors:
Agriculture, Mining, Manufacturing, Industry, Construction, Electricity, Commerce, Tourism, Services, Transportation and Storage.

These minimum hourly wages include 26% Benefits, 8.33% Christmas bonus (aguinaldo), 8.33% severance, 3.85% vacations and 2.47% holidays.

Overtime in Costa Rica is paid as the hourly wage plus 50%.
Every employee in Costa Rica is entitled on a Christmas bonus of one month’s salary. This bonus is paid during the first 20 days of December. The Christmas bonus is calculated as an average of last year’s salary.
In Costa Rica, employees are entitled to two weeks of vacations for every 50 weeks of continuous employment. If an employee’s contract is terminated and he/she has not yet used the earned vacation time they are entitled to a payment of one day’s salary for each month worked during the year.

As an employee in Costa Rica you are entitled to a Christmas bonus or aguinaldo and vacation. On the other hand you also need to pay taxes. In Costa Rica income taxes are calculated as follows:

Up to US$ 3,074 you do not have to pay income tax.
From US$ 3,074 to US$ 4,591 income tax is 10%
From US$ 4,591 to US$ 7,565 income tax is 15%
From US$ 7,565 to US$ 15,348 income tax is 20%
Above US$ 15,348 income tax is 25%

Maternity leave is granted for one month before birth and 3 months after birth. In case of illness it is possible to get treatment paid for by the Social security System in Costa Rica. However, this is only possible after medical evaluation. Employers in Costa Rica face high taxes for each employee. Employers have to pay 46% tax over the yearly salary paid to their employees as well as Social Security payments of 22%.
In Costa Rica there are paid and unpaid holidays. At the dates of paid holidays employers are obliged to pay their employees. Employees have the right to enjoy their holidays and cannot be forced by their employers to work on those days. If an employer forces employees to work, the employer can be fined and employees paid double. If employees agree to work on holidays, they are entitled on double their normal salary.
Paid holidays are:
1st of January (New Year)
11th of April (Juan Santamaría Day)
Jueves y Viernes Santos
1st of May (Labor Day)
25th of July (Anexión del partido de Nicoya a Costa Rica)
15th of August (Motherday and Asuncion de la Vírgen)
15th of September (Independence Day)
25th of December (Christmas)
Non-paid holidays are:
2nd of August (Virgen of Los Angeles Day)
12th of October (Culture Day)

I'm sure there has been many travelers to Costa Rica that have spent more on a 10 day vacation than some CR workers make in a year.

I agree with the concept that the ability to earn more money for the police should be tied into some education requirements. However the police are caught in a catch 22 here by not having the money or the time to pursue it while they are on the force. I would suggest that the Govt. should realize that this country's future depends a great deal on tourism,and that the tourists are not coming in as great a number as they were because of the perceived and actual danger of muggers and thieves Once they understand this,they should raise the minimum salaries for the officers and help them get the additional education to improve themselves.Offshoots of more education would be that they STOP having large families when they can't afford them. They might also stop acquiring so much debt. These incentives might help them attract cops that are more interested in protecting the public than where there next bribe is coming from. It probably won't solve them Country's problems but it's a good start.

VB raises some very good points. A well educated, well trained and well payed police force would provide a lot of benefits to the country that would make the investment worth the cost in the long run.

Many Police Departments in the United States now require a College education to become a police officer. This would not be a practical solution in Costa Rica, at this time, but certainly a tuition reimbursement program could be instituted.



Unfortunately education alone is not going to solve that problem. The Catholic Church is still very powerful in Costa Rica. It prevents sex education in schools, keeps abortion illegal and opposes birth control. Until the government allows itself to govern without impute from the church I think large families will continue without regard to the economic ability to support that family.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

On my last trip, I met a nice policia man selling cigars outside the DR as a "second job" to make ends meet. Must be rough.