Self-employed will pay more for Social Security

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA – October 3^rd, 2012 Self-employed workers currently make payments to the Costa Rican Social Security Service (CCSS), based on a 116,500 colones salary, which is approximately half of an average minimum salary. The CCSS intends to increase this amount so that the workers will pay based on 100% of an average minimum wage, rather than half of it, effectively doubling their CCSS contribution.

CCSS says its goal is help maintain the fiscal health of the CCSS.

According to the latest survey from INEC (National Statistics and Census Institute) , in the second trimester of 2012, there were approximately 409,000 self-employed workers, and percentage wise, this is the labor sector which showed the greatest growth over the same period of last year, with a 14.5% increase in self employed workers.

The motion will be presented this coming Thursday in a board meeting for its approval.

Editors note:  This article has been updated due to a misprint.  The original article stated there were “approximately 409 self-employed workers” when it should have read there are “approximately 409,000 self-employed workers.”   We regret the error.