Labour Minister Says He Will Be Tough on Employers Who Don't Pay the Aguinaldo
In less than two weeks the "Aguinaldo" will start filling the pockets of consumers.

Employers have until December 20 to pay the yearly bonus, though many pay it in the first week of December. The government announced yesterday that it will pay its Aguinaldo on December 6. Employers to fail or refuse to pay the Aguinaldo by December 20 can face themselves before a labour tribunal, as an employee will then have the right to make a complaint to the Ministerio de Trabajo.

Trabajo Minister, Fernando Trejos, is warning all private sector employers that his ministry will be tough on those employers who don't pay completely the Aguinaldo within the specified time frame. Partial payment will not be an excuse to defer the legal action, the Minister said.

Ministerio de Trabajo is making available a toll free line 800-trabajo (800-8722256) for making complaints regarding the Aguinaldo. All complaints are confidential and will be taken up to December 23 and then after January 6, when the government returns from the holiday break.

The Aguinaldo is equivalent, simply put, to one month's salary to all employees over three months employment. For those employees who have been at the job less than a year, the Aguinaldo is fractioned to the time employed.