After more than 11 hours of negotiation this Friday, September 21, representatives of the Costa Rican Government and leaders of the labor unions have not reached an agreement ensuring the strike will continue this Saturday into its 13th day.

Government authorities affirmed they presented a proposal to the labor unions. The labor Union presented a counter proposal which the Government responded to and at 11:30 p.m this Friday evening they still had not received a response.

Labor Unions confirmed that the protest movement will continue this Saturday.

President Carlos Alvarado stated earlier today that he had hope an agreement would be reached, and the strike would be called off, however, he emphasized the urgency of approving the fiscal reform. “It is necessary to solve the fiscal problem. There is not one single scenario in which Costa Rica moves forward without this solution”, affirmed the President.

According to Alvarado, the Government accepted to sit and discuss with the labor unions the 39 proposals labor unions have presented (none of which include cutting salary), but he also clarified that the elements proposed by the unions are being considered as complementary, not a substitute to the current text.

“Costa Rica must define this topic by October, this will determine the future of the country in the next months, years, even for the next generation. The call to dialogue cannot be in function of delaying, or continuing to ‘kick the ball’”, expressed Alvarado.