Summary.
The bill declares the comprehensive development of young professionals or technicians without work experience to be a matter of social interest. It seeks to facilitate their personal fulfillment and employment in the private and public sectors on equal terms of opportunity, rights, and duties. Its objectives include removing employment barriers for qualified people under 30, expanding job opportunities nationwide, and laying the groundwork for State measures to equalize opportunities. It also seeks to secure their rights under the Political Constitution (Constitución Política) and the laws.
The bill defines young people without work experience as nationals or duly regulated residents who have reached the age of majority and are under 30, provided they meet the stated conditions concerning university education, technical or technological accreditation, or lack of formal employment combined with certification of professional practice or an internship. It recognizes their right to seek productive, paid employment on equal terms. Hiring and promotion policies and programs, employment conditions, pay rates, the workplace environment, and the reintegration of workers injured in workplace accidents would have to be equitable.
Every public institution or private company with fifty or more workers would have to employ a proportion of young people without work experience of no less than 4%: at least 2 out of every 50 workers. Those young employees would have to reside in the province where the institution or company is located, except that employers in the country’s capital could hire residents of other provinces. Duly qualified young employees would receive the same pay as any other worker performing the same task within the company. The Executive Branch could increase the required proportion of workers according to the country’s growth conditions.
The Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Ministerio de Trabajo y Desarrollo Laboral), in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social), would oversee compliance with this obligation and address complaints and claims arising from violations. Companies that refuse to hire or maintain the required number of young employees would have to contribute to the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development an amount equivalent to the minimum wage for each person not hired for as long as the refusal continues. The collected funds would support the State Labor Internship Program.
Companies meeting the requirements could receive a tax incentive equivalent to the monthly salary paid to each young professional without work experience for 2 years. Overtime, extraordinary shifts, and amounts exceeding the agreed regular schedule and hours would be excluded. MITRAD EL and the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República) would establish controls for granting the incentive. The bill provides for entry into force on the day after promulgation in the Official Gazette and sets an exception for Article 9. Its provisions concern those public bodies, public employers, private companies, young professionals and technicians, and the work training sector.
What it proposes.
- Employment access for young professionals and technicians without work experience.
- A minimum hiring proportion for public institutions and private companies.
- Equal pay, contributions for noncompliance, and a tax incentive.
Who it would affect.
- Nationals or duly regulated residents who have reached the age of majority, are under 30, and meet the bill’s stated conditions.
- Public institutions and private companies with fifty or more workers.
- Companies seeking the tax incentive.
Key points.
- Declares the comprehensive development of young professionals or technicians without work experience to be a matter of social interest.Art. 1
- Sets objectives for employment access, equal rights, and broader opportunities in the public and private sectors.Art. 2
- Defines the eligible young people by age, national or resident status, and education or practical experience conditions.Art. 3
- Recognizes the right to seek paid employment and calls for equitable hiring, promotion, pay, and working conditions.Art. 4
- Requires institutions and companies with fifty or more workers to employ at least 4% young people without work experience and sets a provincial residence rule.Art. 5
- Requires equal pay for the same task and allows the Executive Branch to increase the required proportion of workers.Art. 6
- Assigns oversight and complaint handling to two ministries and requires contributions from companies that fail to hire or retain the required number of young employees.Arts. 7-8
- Provides a tax incentive tied to monthly salary for 2 years, excludes extraordinary payments, and assigns controls over its award.Art. 9