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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As Working people in the U.S. continue to lose ground year after year in terms of our economic / retirement standard of living and our democratic rights, some Latin American countries continue to advance despite being lesser developed countries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Debate on Ecuadorean Labor Reforms to Go Ahead<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><img width=600 height=340 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D02021.4ADB4CC0" alt="Description: Ecuador"></span><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Ecuador's National Assembly | Photo: teleSUR<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Published 23 December 2014 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Debates on Ecuador’s labor reforms will occur before the end of 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The Law for Labor Justice and Recognition of Work from Home has been approved with eight votes in favor and two against by the Commission of Workers Rights and Social Security in the Ecuadorean National Assembly. To be debated are 44 articles, 41 of which are reforms to the Labor Code, and three to the Social Security Law.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>In a series of eight sessions, the National Assembly met with 35 representatives from social organizations, as well as from private and public institutions, for consultation. Representative Betty Carrillo said that the project seeks to include the recommendations and concerns of these groups.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The reforms to the 1948 labor code seek to provide job stability, ensure greater equality, universalize the social security system, update worker salaries, and democratize labor representation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Having completed their trial period, workers are not subjected to fixed term contracts, in an effort to provide greater stability and eliminate arbitrary dismissal. Additionally, greater protection would be provided to historically marginalized groups, such as women, Afro-Ecuadoreans and LGBT workers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Homemakers would for the first time be recognized for their work and be incorporated into the social security system. If the reforms are passed, they would receive a subsidy of 24 basic salaries, adding up to US$8,160.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>President Rafael Correa has said that a total of US$120 million will be invested by the state to fully cover homemakers, whose work according to official figures contributes 15 percent to the total gross domestic product.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It is expected that 70 percent of homemakers will be registered in the social security system by the end of President Correa's term in 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Certain groups will not be obliged to contribute to the social security system, such as those receiving the Human Development Credit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>To further democratize labor representation, workers would elect committees in their workplace, and there would be a regularized voting procedure for union leaders. The salary gap between management and employees would be reduced, so that management may only earn 20 times more than the minimum wage of workers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Debates surrounding the Law for Labor Justice and Recognition of Work from the Home are scheduled to occur before the end of 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>