Advertising about nurses' back pay is removed in Costa Rica and possible government interference is denounced

One of the removed structures was located in front of the central offices of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), in San José. Credit: Costa Rica Nursing Association The Costa Rica Nursing Association (CECR) denounced a possible intervention by the Costa Rican government in the removal of advertising that exposed the salary arrears of Nursing professionals at the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), a situation that has prompted complaints and mobilizations by healthcare staff over recent months. The controversy arose after two pieces from the "La Vida No Espera" (Life Doesn't Wait) campaign were removed from public spaces in San José within a period of approximately 24 hours, without, according to the professional organization, any formal explanation justifying the decision. The ads had been installed in strategic locations in the capital. One was an advertising structure at a bus stop, in front of the CCSS central offices, while the second was a totem located in Plaza de la Cultura, one of the areas with the highest pedestrian traffic in San José. According to the Association, the company hired to place the advertising communicated that the ads had to be removed, but did not provide further details about the reasons. However, during a telephone conversation, representatives of the company reportedly indicated that the instruction came from the government, a claim that led the professional group to demand explanations and announce steps to determine what happened. So far, it has not been publicly verified that any government authority ordered the removal, nor has the person or institution that would have issued the alleged instruction been identified. The president of the Nursing Association, Gabriel Guido Sancho, confirmed that the organization began pursuing administrative and legal actions to identify those responsible for the decision and establish whether there was any improper interference. "We are taking administrative and legal actions so that it is made clear to us who issued the instruction to remove this advertising," the union representative stated. Guido argued that the situation raises concern from a constitutional standpoint, particularly due to the possibility that an attempt was made to limit the dissemination of complaints related to the labor rights of Nursing staff. The leader asserted that the Association will take the case "to the last consequences," with the aim of determining whether there was any action intended to prevent the professional group from publicly expressing its questions about the salary arrears. Meanwhile, the organization's legal advisor, Giovanni Eduardo Rodríguez Solís, warned that the circumstances must be analyzed in light of the constitutional guarantees related to freedom of expression. "We hope this does not constitute a violation of Articles 27 and 28 of the Political Constitution, through prior censorship that prevents us from expressing ourselves as corresponds to all Costa Ricans," the lawyer stated. Article 27 of the Political Constitution of Costa Rica protects the right of petition before public institutions, while Article 28 establishes guarantees against persecution for expressing opinions. In turn, Article 29 expressly recognizes the right to communicate and publish thoughts without prior censorship. The Costa Rica Nursing Association denounced the removal of two advertising pieces from its "La Vida No Espera" campaign. Credit: Costa Rica Nursing Association The controversy is taking place amid a labor conflict affecting Nursing staff at Costa Rican public hospitals. According to data released by the Nursing Association on October 5, 2026, the organization had compiled 714 reports of CCSS professionals with delayed salaries or incomplete payments. The information, gathered between September 25 and 29, revealed that 8 out of 10 cases involved delays of two months or more, while 83% of those affected were women. Among the reported irregularities are non-payment of ordinary salaries, discrepancies in remuneration, problems with the recognition of overtime hours, and delays related to appointments and substitutions. The Association's figures contrast with the 482 cases of employees with salary difficulties that the CCSS had publicly identified in September, although both records stem from surveys and criteria that are not necessarily equivalent. The health institution announced at the time that it would process the pending payments during October, through an individual review of employment records. Added to this situation are the findings of the CCSS Internal Audit, which identified problems associated with the SIPE payment system, including 808 employees with salary difficulties at Hospital México, as well as pending administrative movements at other medical centers. The campaign seeks to make visible the salary arrears faced by hundreds of Nursing professionals in Costa Rican public hospitals. Credit: SINAE Afines The conflict also triggered a national health sector strike on September 17, during which union organizations demanded solutions for workers who reported failures in their remuneration. The Nursing Association had already filed an amparo appeal before the Constitutional Chamber in August over the payment problems, in addition to turning to other institutional channels to request solutions.