Christmas Employee’s Bonus – ‘Aguinaldo’ is mandatory in Costa Rica

Back in the 40’s, the Government of Costa Rica created a list of mandatory benefits and obligations for both, Employers and Employees, and among that list we can find the Aguinaldo (Christmas Bonus).

What is the Aguinaldo?

The Aguinaldo is an extra salary, also known as the 13th month, which has to be paid to all the regular employees, regardless of the performance or quality of the job, since is based on the paid gross salary.

The Aguinaldo was created as an aid for the employees to face the extra expenses of Christmas and New Year’s Seasons.

There is no way that employer can avoid the payment of this benefit, either the employee can quit to receive this benefit.

How to calculate the Aguinaldo?

For the calculation of the Aguinaldo you have to add all the paid gross salaries per employee, this includes over time, double time, commissions, maternity leave, etc; subtract absences, sickness licenses from December 1st of the previous year through November 30th of the current year, and divide it by twelve.

If the employee started to work after December 1st of the previous year, then you add all the gross salaries since the first day and also divide them by twelve, on other hand, if the employee leaves the company before November 30th then the Aguinaldo is calculated until the last day of work, see some scenarios below:

Scenario A: Pedro works for the Company since 2004, and he earns a monthly salary of $400, to calculate his Aguinaldo you take all the made salaries from December 1st 2008 through November 30th 2011:

400*12= $4,800 Total Made Salaries 4800/12= $400 Aguinaldo 2011.

Scenario B: Maria started working for the company in April 16th 2010, and she makes a monthly salary of $400, but in June she worked 1 extra day, to calculate her Aguinaldo you have to:

400/30*15= $200 Salary earned from April 16th to April 30th 400*7= $2,800 Salary from May to November. 200+2800= Total Made Salary for the year 3000/12= $250 Aguinaldo 2011.

Keep in mind that no retention, withholding or tax has to be applied to the Aguinaldo.

When To Pay Aguinaldo?

You can pay the Aguinaldo any day between December 1st and December 20th, if by December you haven’t paid the Aguinaldo this is considered as illegal retention and the employee can complain at the Working Ministry Offices and an Inspection can be conducted, fines and they even have the power to shut down your company depending on each case depending on the amount retained and number of employees.