Costa Rica is the second country around the world that works the most hours. However, this does not equal productivity. As a result, different sectors call for actions to benefit the country.
In 2015, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conducted a study which showed that Mexico, Costa Rica and South Korea were the countries with the highest hours of work per year. However, when it comes to productivity, Costa Rica was not even taken into account.
In the first days of January, the OECD published a chart which placed Costa Rica among the countries that work hardest, but how to be a more productive country?
Different sectors point out that the country can improve productivity by implementing actions to increase the performance among national workers.
The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP) has insisted that the country must modernize its labor schemes to equal an economy exposed to greater competition.
In addition, according to UCCAEP, issues such as inadequate road infrastructure and poor internet speed affect productivity in the country.
On the other hand, Francisco Gamboa, president of the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (ICRC) points out that the country must strengthen the quantity and quality of human capital, promote innovation and improve infrastructure.
Rafael Mora, an adviser to the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP), thinks that the country must consider improvements in working environments that can offer the best tools and have the necessary conditions to carry out the work.