Mother's Day A National Holiday in Costa Rica!

The day after tomorrow is Mother's Day, a national holiday in Costa Rica.

Government offices and institutions, banks and most industry and businesses will be closed. However, many retailers will be open for business, as restaurants who are looking for what is sometimes referred to as their second Christmas.


Retail stores in Costa Rica ready with their Mother's Day offers.

For those who are required to work, this is a "double" paid holiday.

Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) - Ministry of Labour - no worker is required to work on the holiday, only if they agree to do so, in which case they shall be paid double. Employers who force an employee to work or do not pay extra to those who do, face sanctions.

In addition, this holiday cannot be transferred to another day, that is an employee who works on the holiday is not to be given a day off on another date and an employee who refuses to work on the holiday, cannot be penalized (pay docked or fired) as a result.

The holiday rules apply to all national and international employers in Costa Rica.

A holiday with the same rules is September 15, Independence Day in Costa Rica.