Those Waiting to Be Approved as Refugees are Given Limited Work Options in Costa Rica.

The number of Colombians who seek refuge in Costa Rica is constantly increasing and according to some reports of the High Commission of the United Nations (ACNUR in Spanish), 90% of the refugees admitted here come from that country. There are a total of 11,600 refugees in this country, 10,440 are Colombians, and this number is always growing with an average of about 90 new applications per month.

Interestingly, the information that immigration provides is slightly different, with a documented 7,850 refugees presently in the country. This is apparently due to the fact that some of them change their status and become residents, something they can apply for after spending a minimum of 3 years in the country, and as long as ACNUR did not loose their refugee status.

ACNUR has critized the Costa Rican authorities for not being helpful enough and for their lack of diligence when it comes to proceedings for those seeking refuge and for the non-existence of a Department of Refugees, a government establishment that closed down in 2005. ACNUR also points out that it can take up to nine months for the refugee applications to be processed, during which time the applicants cannot be employed.

Even though the refugees take advantage of the right to be employed in some minor positions, it is more usual for them to have to wait for years before they can make a decent living and enjoy a more secure position, like in the case of one particular man who had to survive for more than eight years as a street salesman selling books, cleaning products and ice cream.

The refuge expressed how miserable and hard it can be starting from scratch in an alien country with no relatives, friends and zero credit. He heard of ACNUR and eventually they were able to help him with what they call a mini credit. He had studied dressmaking back in Colombia and was therefore able to establish himself with a small business making uniforms for doctors. Today, having joined a Colombian company, he is serving clients all over the country, including luxury hotels, clinics and spas. There is no doubt that an impressive amount of courage and determination have played a big part in his story.

One major obstacle to a refuge’s success is that the majority of the population has no respect for them and show very little understanding as to what their situation is and how difficult it is for them to start again, especially when they are faced with such rejection and very little help. They are seen as being some kind of undesirable delinquents, when the reality shows quite the contrary. Only 14 out of all the convicts of this country are refugees, and that is way less than 1%.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on June 19th, 2008