The Standard Fruit Company of Costa Rica, a subsidiary of Dole, announced this Thursday, January 24, the closure of its work center, which includes the Operations, Terminal and Workshop Department in Limón, due to the start of operations of the Moín Container Terminal (TCM). The closing affects some 200 workers.
The company said it could not justify maintaining two work centers and is giving workers one additional month of severance pay above that required by law.
“The Company, aware that this represents a difficult situation and a period of adaptation for workers, will recognize as a liberality, a month in addition to the benefits of law (severance and notice) that corresponds to each worker,” the company said in the statement announcing the closing of the plant.
"We knew it was going to happen, it’s just the tip of the iceberg of what’s going to come to Limón in the next few months, with the opening of the new APM Terminal, we had announced it in the Legislative Assembly,” said David Gourzong, legislator for the Partido Liberacion Nacional.
According to an article by qcostarica.com, the Ministry of Labor was taken by surprise by the company announcement, saying it will meet with company representatives to learn first-hand the real situation of the company.
