With 46 affirmative votes, the Plenary approved in the second reading the bill of law 20,389 which establishes the salary equality between men and women, both in the private and public sectors .
The initiative aims to eradicate the wage gaps between men and women when they perform the same job, therefore, it seeks to eliminate discrimination based on gender.
Differences in remuneration that are based on objective criteria duly demonstrated and justified, for reasons of abilities, qualifications, suitability, responsibility, productivity or seniority, among others, will not be considered arbitrary.
In no case will the differences that imply a lower remuneration for women for the sole fact of being women, for the condition of maternity, or that lack an objective and reasonable justification be valid”.
Franggi Nicolás, legislator for the National Liberation Party (PLN) pointed out that, although some people might question why the Plenary discusses such projects, it is simply because in the country, such situations continue to occur.
The Social Christian Shirley Díaz, based on data from the State of the Nation, said that for the same job, the salary difference is up to 100 thousand colones. In addition, she pointed out that 62% of men have a job versus 38% of women who are in more informal job markets.
The approved project also indicates the creation of an Interinstitutional Commission for Wage Equality between Men and Women, which will meet at least twice and will be in charge of managing and ensuring that the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) incorporates the equality indicator salary in the corresponding studies.