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Equal Employment Opportunities for Women and Men

Constitution - Costa Rica

(In Spanish) (In English)

Made as Political Constitution Law No. 0 by the Constituent National Assembly on 7 November 1949, the relevant articles of the Constitution may be summarized as follows:

  1. Article 33 provides that all persons are equal before the Law and prohibits discrimination against human dignity. (Reformed by Article 1, Law 7880, 27 May 1999).
  2. Article 51 provides that the family, as a natural element and foundation of society, is entitled to State protection. Mothers, children, the elderly and the destitute infirm are also entitled to such protection. Under article 52, marriage is the essential basis of the family and rests on equality of the rights of spouses. Under article 55, the special protection of the mother will be the responsibility of an independent institution, entitled Patronato Nacional de la Infancia in collaboration with other State institutions.
  3. Under article 56, labour is a right of the individual and an obligation to society. The State must strive to see that everyone has lawful and useful employment, duly compensated, and prevent the establishment on that account of conditions which may in any way curtail human freedom or dignity or degrade a worker's labour to the status of mere merchandise. The State guarantees the right to free choice of work. Under article 57, all workers have the right to a minimum salary, fixed periodically, for a normal working day that provides for the worker's welfare and a decent living. The salary must be equal for equal work in identical conditions of efficiency.
  4. Article 71 provides that the law will give special protection to women and minors in their work.

Updated by IC. Approved by GT. Last update: 17 November 2003.