Labor unions in Costa Rica confirmed that the country wide strike will continue this Wednesday, September 12, when they expect to have the biggest march so far.

According to information released by the labor unions the protesters will leave from different points in the country and will meet at 9 a.m. in La Sabana to walk towards the Legislative Assembly. Bus transportation will be offered by the labor unions for protesters coming from far regions such as Guanacaste, Perez Zeledon, Coto Brus and Turrialba, among others.

President of the National Association of Educators (ANEP), asked the population to take the necessary measures if they need to go to San Jose, since the movement will likely cause traffic problems.

This Tuesday, the Ministry of Education affirmed that 48% of public schools remained entirely closed, while the rest operated normally or with minimum problems.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Service (CCSS) stated that 51% of the personnel that joined the strike on Monday returned to work on Tuesday.

“We see a clear reduction in the effects the movement has had. 77% of the EBAIS clinics are operating normally. We have 100% of the pharmacies working. Yesterday (Monday) we were only able to complete 20% of the surgeries that were programmed, and today we are at 38%”, explained Román Macaya, Executive President of the CCSS.

The Government will continue its coordinated actions to ensure the normal operation of public institutions and prevent and intervene in the event of roadblocks or other problems.

An incident was reported this evening in Limon, where a group of protesters set fire to tires and trash cans in front of the Costa Rican State Oil Refinery (Recope) in Moin. A few hours later, unidentified people also set fire to a trailer truck that was parked in front of Recope’s gates.