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Workers took to the streets pending the labor reform prepared by the Government
Posted On 02 May 2019
Ecuadornews:
The intense sun did not stop Patricia Pincay, 52, from participating yesterday, in a wheelchair, of the March for Labor Day, which took place in downtown Guayaquil.
She stated that her protest was in rejection of the labor reforms prepared by the Government in response to the agreement with the International Monetary Fund .
These would include new types of contracts and an increase in the trial period, as it has transpired. Groups such as the Popular Front of Guayas, the Nucleus March 8 Women for Change, and others, joined the mobilization, organized by the Workers Unity Front , which culminated in the Centennial Park.
Eduardo Ortega, president of the FUT, said that a few days after the government reaches two years, there are “setbacks” in the labor sector: “They are indolent measures and we do not agree because they are proposing a new form of contracting and this is a affectation linked with social security.
(Because) if they increase the age, it is the same with the contributions, but with the labor reforms, how are we going to continue contributing? Patches are measured, “he said, adding that they plan to carry out a national strike. At the same time the march of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores was developed, which proposed an urgent treatment of the issue in the Assembly.
Trade unions of public servants, associations of self-employed workers, paid domestic workers, retirees, among others, began this concentration in Eloy Alfaro and General Gómez until arriving at 9 de Octubre Avenue.
Richard Gómez, president of the CUT, said that they demand from the Government a Pact for Employment that dignifies the working class, gives stability and strengthens social security: “We can not accept that businessmen have always had that speech that they want to generate employment with flexibility, “he said.
In the FUT mobilizations in Quito, which ended in San Francisco Square, the guild announced that it will present a new proposal Labor Code, which is focused on guaranteeing job stability and the right to organize.
Mesías Tatamuez, leader of the Cedocut, said that the new reform has to start from a national agreement with employers, legislators and Government. From the Labor Parliament, whose mobilization reached the Plaza de Santo Domingo, the proposal to work 40 hours with extended days of 10 hours a day in three and a half days and complement the remaining hours on Saturday or Sunday was questioned. According to its leader, Jaime Arciniega, the objective is that the business sector does not pay extra and extraordinary hours.
“It is an attitude of a regressive nature that we are not willing to give up.” The Minister of Labor, Andrés Madero, said that the necessary reforms will be made, rights will be respected and more jobs will be created. He also participated, yesterday, in the marches of the capital.
“Let’s not fall into false ironies or issues that are trying to confuse us the prophets of disaster. Simply, let’s see that we are agreeing among workers, employers and the State the best way for labor reforms to have the necessary success in order to incorporate new employees into the formal sector, “said the official in the Plaza Grande.
Correístas with placards of defense to Patiño Pancartas with the phrase “Not a persecuted more”, in reference to the investigation against the ex- minister of External Relations Ricardo Patiño by the presumed crime of instigación, they were exhibited yesterday in the concentration and march that made groups related to former president Rafael Correa.
They concentrated on the El Arbolito park and then headed downtown. Reference was also made to the so-called INA Papers case, which, based on journalistic investigations, would link President Lenín Moreno with companies in tax havens.
After 10:30, those related to Correa had not yet left for his departure because at that time the parade was of the Ecuadorian Labor Parliament. As they passed one next to the other, they joined in cries of “outside, Moreno, outside”, although there was also a crossing of words.
The exoficialista Luis Reina, councilor reelecto by the movement Commitment Social led by the exmandatario, mentioned that there is a “bad government” and neoliberalism.
This translates into job insecurity and dismissals of public sector workers in health or education. Another reason, he said, is the government’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which means, in his opinion, privatizations and reduction of social spending. (I)
