#CostaRica 🇨🇷 #BDS_Reports: Employees Entitled to Paid Leave for Voting
Employees are entitled to a paid leave to exercise their right to vote in popular elections and...
The Government of Costa Rica has declared a public sector holiday for all government offices and institutions for the Presidential Inauguration ceremony, the official event to be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the National Stadium.
The measure was announced through Executive Decree No. 45680-MGP, published in Item No. 38 to Official Gazette No. 69 on Thursday, April 16, 2026, which declares the event to be of public interest, in line with the provisions of Executive Decree No. 45460-RE of January 5, 2026.
The legal basis for this provision is found in Article 136 of the Political Constitution, which establishes that the President and Vice Presidents of the Republic take office on May 8, the same date on which the previous constitutional term ends.
The Decree provides that:
- A public holiday is granted to government offices and public institutions on May 8 to facilitate citizen participation, institutional coordination, and the conduct of official ceremonies.
- Institutional heads must ensure the continuity of essential public services.
- Mandatory exceptions are established for critical services, including:
- Medical and emergency services of the CCSS (Social Security Administration)
- Police forces
- Traffic officers
- Selected departments within the Ministry of Health
- Decentralized institutions are encouraged to coordinate the corresponding measures based on their administrative autonomy.
Considerations for the Private Sector
From a labor perspective, it should be noted that this day off applies exclusively to the public sector, and therefore private sector employers are not required to suspend operations.
However, private organizations are advised to assess potential operational impacts, particularly regarding mobility, logistics, and service delivery, resulting from the official ceremony.
