Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports
Security Theme
Human Security
Keywords
sexual exploitation, child labor, human trafficking
Description
In 2022, Costa Rica made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government launched a plan to eradicate all forms of child labor in Costa Rica by 2025 and conducted virtual and in-person training to strengthen awareness, prevention, and the culture of reporting on child labor issues. The Office for the Eradication of Child Labor and Protection of the Adolescent Worker also provided assistance to minors withdrawn from exploitative labor by referring them to the cash transfer program for adolescent workers. However, children in Costa Rica are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in agriculture, including in the production of coffee. Lastly, research indicates that Costa Rica does not have an adequate number of labor inspectors to carry out inspection duties and it lacks sufficient financial resources to be able to carry out labor and criminal enforcement efforts.
Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports
In 2022, Costa Rica made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government launched a plan to eradicate all forms of child labor in Costa Rica by 2025 and conducted virtual and in-person training to strengthen awareness, prevention, and the culture of reporting on child labor issues. The Office for the Eradication of Child Labor and Protection of the Adolescent Worker also provided assistance to minors withdrawn from exploitative labor by referring them to the cash transfer program for adolescent workers. However, children in Costa Rica are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Children also engage in child labor in agriculture, including in the production of coffee. Lastly, research indicates that Costa Rica does not have an adequate number of labor inspectors to carry out inspection duties and it lacks sufficient financial resources to be able to carry out labor and criminal enforcement efforts.