CoDevelopment
Experiences in
Costa Rica
Luis Alonso Serrano Echeverría
Head of Institutional Planning
General Directorate of Migration
and Immigration – COSTA RICA
What is Co-Development?
• A form of cooperation where out-migrating
citizens are a vector of development in their
country of origin.
• A phenomenon that exists since migration
began.
• Traditionally, populations that have moved to
other countries (especially those migrating for
economic reasons) have supported the
development in their communities of origin in
different ways, either individually or in a
collective manner.
Objectives
To regulate the labour migration flows of Nicaraguan
workers in Costa Rica.
To promote conditions for migrants to integrate into labour
markets.
To improve the economic and psycho-social situation of
migrants and their families.
To promote the social integration of migrants.
Objective of the Co-Development
Programme
To establish an orderly
procedure through a series of
mechanisms and regulations
agreed on between both
countries (origin and
destination) with the aim of
facilitating orderly labour
migration flows establishing
working conditions and return
mechanisms in advance;
offering opportunities, having a
comprehensive impact on the
development of both countries
(origin and destination), and
ensuring the respect for, human
dignity, and well-being of
migrant workers.
Participating Institutions
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AECID
IOM
DGME Costa Rica
DGME Nicaragua
Ministry of Labour of Costa Rica (MTSS)
Ministry of Labour of Nicaragua
Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries
MIDEPLAN
Defensoría de los Habitantes of Costa Rica
Social Sector Representatives
Training and Resources for the
Ministry of Labour and Social
Welfare (MTSS) and the
General Directorate of
Migration and Immigration
(DGME)
Capacity-building
(Activity A.A.4)
Costa Rica - Nicaragua
Co-Development Project
• Human resources support
• Infrastructure support
• Technology support and office
supplies
• Expediting procedures and
regulations for labour migration for
employment purposes
Binational Agreement
Costa Rica - Nicaragua
In December 2007, a Binational
Cooperation Agreement was
signed between the Ministries of
Labour and General Directorates
of Migration and Immigration of the
Governments of Costa Rica and
Nicaragua, with the aim of joining
efforts and regulating the
procedures relating to migrant
workers in an orderly manner, in
strict compliance with the basic
rights of workers.
Procedure
• Recruiting and hiring in Nicaragua
• Transfer of migrant workers to Costa Rica
• Inter-institutional coordination at the border
between Ministries of Labour and General
Directorates of Migration and Immigration of
both countries
• Workers enter the country and submit relevant
documents
• A work permit is granted
Two Spheres of Action
• Hiring workers
from outside Costa
Rican territory that
are required by
enterprises from
the construction,
agriculture, and
agro-industry
sectors.
• Hiring foreign
workers who
already are in
Costa Rican
territory in a
regular manner.
Initiating the Application Process
The enterprise that is interested in hiring foreign
workers for specific activities needs to submit an
application to the National Directorate of Employment
(DNE) of MTSS. This institution will formulate a
recommendation based on technical studies in the
area in question.
Exemption from Admission
Requirements
Workers that are hired from abroad are not
required to submit a visa, proof of no indefinite stay
in Costa Rica (a return ticket or a ticket to continue
their journey), or proof of financial means
(solvency) to DGME.
Procedure
Costa Rica:
• DGME shall authorize the entry of
Nicaraguan nationals over 18 years of
age under the special category of
temporary worker with a prior report by
MTSS.
• Activities: construction, agriculture, and
agro-industry.
• Begins with the application submitted by
the employer to DNE.
Procedure
• The enterprise may submit relevant documents
at the regional offices of DGME of Costa Rica.
• Documents are filed under a “master file” for
each enterprise.
• Each worker has a file with forms, photos, data,
and the original application.
• The deposit of $20 can be done together with
the initial application or when the permit is
granted.
Procedure with DGME
Once a favourable report has been received
from DNE, the interested enterprise needs to
comply with the following requirements:
A written application signed by the legal
representative of the enterprise, authenticated
by an attorney, including general information
on the foreign national.
Complete one form for each worker.
Two passport size photos.
One copy of the page of the passport that
includes general information.
Communication to Border Posts
Once the deposits have been made, the
relevant office of DGME issues the
authorization resolutions and immediately
informs the border posts about this, in order
to facilitate the entry of the temporary
workers.
Responsibilities of the
Employer
• To ensure two-way transportation, at the
beginning of the employment term and upon
expiration of the employment contract.
• Housing with optimum hygiene and physical
safety conditions, without any cost for the
worker.
• A guarantee deposit of $20 or its equivalent
in Colones.
The Government of Costa Rica, through
MTSS, shall watch over the following:
a) Socio-labour treatment as established
by Costa Rican legislation
b) Housing conditions
c) Payment of salaries
d) Recognizing and complying with
severance pay
Term
Once the term for the authorized stay has
expired, the foreign national should
immediately leave the country, unless the
enterprise requests authorization for the
worker to continue working.
Causes for Automatic Cancellation
of the Special Category
Expiration of the authorized term.
Voluntary departure of the worker from Costa
Rican territory.
Engaging in activities other than those
authorized by DNE or changing employer without
authorization.
www.migracion.go.cr