According to a press release sent by the Costa Rican Construction Chamber, the labor unions’ strike that has been going on for the last three weeks, have caused that five construction companies have had to let go close to 300 workers.

The fact that there has been a shortage or raw material for the production of asphalt that is used in the works of roads in the country is leaving many workers without a job.

Recope, the state refinery, affirmed that as a result of the protests the supply of asphalt and bunker fuel has been handled only in the facilities of El Alto, Ochomogo (Cartago); however, they ran out of these products since September 21; in addition to this situation, the boilers in Moin, Limon, that keep this product at the required temperature, suffered damages, which has difficulted its commerce.

Recope affirmed they have been working on solving these problems and expect that by next week they can resume the commercialization of asphalt.

“Since the strike began, the boilers that maintain the recommended temperature are not working, and the product has cooled to levels that make it impossible to commercialize it. When the equipment begins working again it will take at least three days for it to reach the necessary temperature that will allow Recope to continue selling the product”, explains the release.

“We call on the leaders of the labor unions and ask them to understand that we are talking about families that stop receiving their income, and about roads that require maintenance”, commented Jorge Arturo Gonzales, president of the Construction Chamber.

The strike affecting Recope was declared illegal yesterday by the Labor Court.