Ecuadorean unions cancel protest in Quito over Covid-19 spike

In a statement released on social media, the Workers’ United Front reported the cancellation of the demonstration in Quito, as they toured the city’s streets to demand policies in favor of employment, education, health and security.

However, there have been sit-ins in other cities in defense of the life, work and security of citizens, such as Nestlé Ecuador, in the town of Cayambe, Pichincha province, where they rejected the company’s anti-union practices.

Participating in the protest, the president of the Federation of Free Trade Union Organizations of Ecuador, Marcela Arellano, criticized the restrictions on freedom of association practiced by the company.

In addition, the current work context in Ecuador is characterized by the government’s announcement to increase the minimum wage to $450 from 2023, which is less than the value of the basic food basket.

Although union leaders understand that the president is making good on his campaign promise, they consider a $25 salary increase an insufficient strategy to solve the economic crisis for the thousands of employees who earn the set minimum wage or less.

The basket of basic commodities, as they commented, is close to $800 and they think the salary should be at least $500.

At the same time, there are concerns that the increase in Covid-19 infections and other respiratory diseases will affect the economy, which was already affected during the first phase of the pandemic and is now in a state of recovery.

lam / avr