A new IOM information campaign, designed to inform migrants of
their rights and their responsibilities, is being launched this
week in Costa Rica.

The campaign is part of an IOM managed co-development project
which targets Nicaragua and Costa Rica and aims to regularize the
flows of Nicaraguan migrant workers to Costa Rica by ensuring legal
integration into the local labour market, improving the economic
and psychosocial situation of the migrants and their families and
by promoting their social integration into society.

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"_blank" title="">View video (Spanish)

The campaign messages will focus on the rights and responsibilities
of migrants and employers, and include the right to a life free of
abuse; an end to unlawful detention; healthcare; a minimum wage,
paid holidays, and other labour rights as prescribed by Costa Rican
law as well as the right to participate in labour unions or other
related organizations.

Working with Costa Rica's Ministry of Labour and Social
Security, the General Directorate of Migration and the Nicaraguan
Consulate, and with funding from the Spanish Agency for
International Cooperation (AECI by its Spanish acronym), radio and
TV spots, as well as information leaflets and other materials will
be distributed throughout the country, specifically targeting
migrants and employers.

"The IOM co-development project aims to increase the
contribution made by Nicaraguan migrants to their host country and
to their country of origin.  But we are also working towards
better integration and an increase in the psychosocial well-being
of this population," explains Salvador Gutiérrez of IOM
Costa Rica.

In the past three decades, migration flows from Nicaragua to
Costa Rica have been prompted by natural disasters, political
conflicts and economic downturns. 

Although the exact numbers are not available, estimates point to
some 250,000 Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica on a permanent
basis.  A similar number is estimated to be in the country in
an irregular fashion, working in seasonal jobs and returning home
once the work is over.

Fear and ignorance of the law are the main reasons why migrant
workers prefer not to register with the social security
system.  For employers this represents huge savings, but for
the workers it means that they are not protected in case of
on-the-job accidents.  Without a contract, irregular migrants
are paid below the minimum wage and are not covered by social
security, which includes workman's compensation insurance.

For more information please contact:

Ana Beatriz Fernández

OIM San José

Tel. +506.2221.5348 ext. 136

E-mail: "mailto:afernandez@iom.int">afernandez@iom.int