Costa Rica's Constitutional Court Review Stalls 4x3 Workweek Bill
Sixteen opposition lawmakers asked Costa Rica's Constitutional Chamber, known as Sala IV, to review bill 24.290 before its final vote, delaying the measure. The proposal would allow medical-device plants and corporate service centers to use 12-hour shifts on a four-days-on, three-days-off schedule. The court has one month under law to respond, and the workweek change is not yet in force.
Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly is a single-chamber congress that approves laws in two votes. The Sala IV, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, reviews whether bills and laws comply with the Constitution. It has seven magistrates and twelve alternates, chosen by lawmakers, and its decisions cannot be appealed.
Bill 24.290 would permit medical-device factories and corporate service centers to use 12-hour shifts on a four-days-on, three-days-off pattern. Sixteen opposition deputies sought constitutional review after the first vote and before the second, freezing the final vote. The court has a month to respond under Article 101, though rulings can take longer. The change is not yet in effect.
If enacted, the 4x3 schedule could reshape daily life for workers in medical-device plants and corporate service centers, along with their families and employers. Longer shifts may offer more consecutive days off, but could also raise questions about fatigue, childcare, and scheduling. The court's review may delay investment or workplace planning. Because the bill is not in force, companies and workers must still follow current Labour Code rules, so any practical effects remain uncertain until the Sala IV responds.