Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Article 8 of the Convention. Migrant workers. The Committee notes the information supplied in the report of the Government in reply to its earlier comments. The Committee notes with interest the final report of the IV Binational Meeting between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, held on 12 and 13 May 1997, especially as regards the Subcommittee on Security and Migration, as well as the Government's intention to make every effort to treat the situation of migrant workers in Costa Rica with justice and solidarity, in conformity with the principles set forth in the Convention and enshrined in the ILO. The Committee also notes from the same report that "an agreement was reached to request technical cooperation from the international organizations to conduct a critical assessment of ways and means for exchange of information between the parties so as to allow cross-checking and permit rapid issuing of the seasonal worker card".

The Committee reminds the Government that it may request ILO technical assistance if it so wishes.

In addition, the Committee notes that the Government wishes to continue to make efforts with a view to resolving matters relating to migrant Nicaraguan workers in Costa Rica. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken to ensure application of Article 8, and in particular on: (i) the analysis of results obtained with systems implemented to deal with the situation of foreigners including migrant Nicaraguan workers; (ii) the analysis of the results of the seasonal worker card; (iii) the number of seasonal worker cards issued to Nicaraguans, and the results of the regularization, so as to avoid their return or deportation, of their status as migrants; (iv) the measures taken to initiate a procedure to issue a special passport for migrants; (v) the implementation and the results of the information campaign on the seasonal worker card to promote regulated migration, and (vi) the measures taken to resolve the problem of the migrants' families as well as their results.