The Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica has published a statement opposing any legislative initiative that would allow the total or accelerated liquidation of assets in the Régimen Obligatorio de Pensiones Complementarias, ROPC. It argues that early withdrawals would undermine the scheme’s purpose as a pension complement, weaken the sustainability of the pension system, and negatively affect current and future retirees. The chamber stresses that the ROPC was designed as the second pillar of the pension system, complementary to the IVM and other public schemes, and that benefits are conditioned on meeting the basic pension requirements under Article 20 of the Worker Protection Law. In a letter to the Legislative Assembly’s Permanent Ordinary Committee on Social Affairs, it highlighted that employers provide 76.5% of monthly contributions versus 23.5% from workers, and cited SUPEN data indicating that at retirement 78% of the accumulated balance is investment returns, 16% employer contributions, and 5% worker contributions. It also pointed to the Fondo de Capitalización Laboral as the mechanism intended to provide liquidity during working life, and criticised the absence of the business sector from the committee’s working discussions on any potential ROPC liquidation.
Superintendencia General de Seguros de Costa Rica 2026-02-20
Costa Rica's Chamber of Industries rejects proposals to allow early liquidation of the ROPC complementary pension pillar
The Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica opposes legislative initiatives for the total or accelerated liquidation of assets in the Régimen Obligatorio de Pensiones Complementarias (ROPC), arguing it would undermine the pension system's sustainability and affect retirees. The chamber emphasizes the ROPC's role as a pension complement and highlights that 76.5% of contributions come from employers. It criticizes the exclusion of the business sector from discussions on potential ROPC liquidation.