Construction jobs normally held by Costa Ricans are being replaced by Nicaraguans
Contrary to belief, Costa Rica is no longer a Third World country. Its advancement in technology growth (4th in the world for micro chip processors), high literary rate (over 90%), standard of living, health, education (all three highest in all of the Latin Americans) is just a few modern identities that have jumped them into bordering a first and second world country. Unfortunately, with development (growing pains) comes it problems and one of them is the increasing traffic of immigrants, particular Nicaraguans. And with the world-wide economy at destructive levels, this is reality that may effect Costa Rica’s overall growth.
Like the US with its legal and illegal Mexicans, Costa Rica is following in the US footsteps with Nicaragua who are increasingly being accused of taking lots and lots of jobs from Costa Ricans. Back in Dec, 2008, Costa Rican police arrested a man allegedly trying to bring 40 Nicaraguans to work illegally in sugar cane fields in the northwestern province of Guanacaste. And this is just the start, Police arrest smugglers, smuggling human cargo almost everyday now, not counting how many they send back going through immigration trying to get in legally.
General Labor force being threaten by under-the-table jobs and low wages
Many claim the immigration tension started during Nicaraguans civil war back in 1980, which may have been an excuse back then, but not now in today’s modern Costa Rica. The problem is not the immigrants (you can’t fault them for seeking a better life) but the poverty of other countries and the benefits that businesses and households get when they hire them under-the-table with very low wages. Since they do not pay the payroll taxes, it is starting to strain the countries, health, legal, law and education systems. Sound a little familiar?
With that said, and the almost split vote on Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, tensions have escalated. It is pretty much common knowledge that police will turn the other way to a robbery and/or beating of a Nicaraguan, which rarely make any headlines. Some speculate this type of KKK actions have doubled in the last year and with the economy the way it is, increase.
Another major problem is the cultural differences. Costa Rican are generally peaceful, friendly, and easy going people, they hate almost any form of confrontation. So when fights happen, it escalates it into a form of bigotry.
According to Costa Rica labor law (which is supposed to be strictly enforced), no foreigner can take away any mediocre job that a Costa Rican can do. This means, farm, warehouse and construction labor, truck drivers, nannies, maids, cashiers etc. And according to immigration and labor law, it takes months just to get a work permit and resident status and at best, both require the service of a good attorney, which can cost anywhere from a couple hundred to a few thousand USD. Obviously, 99% of immigrants can’t afford that. And obviously, if Nicaraguans were paid legally, employers would not find much advantage in hiring them, and consequently they would stop coming in; except for the agricultural work, as it is with US and their seasonal Mexicans farm labors and pickers.
Speak Your Mind