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Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Ecuador (RATIFICATION: 1969)

Article 2 of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in May 2014 which includes information relating to the direct request of 2008. The Government emphasizes that the rate of extreme poverty due to unmet essential needs decreased, from 39.4 per cent in 2005 to 14.2 per cent in 2011. According to information dated June 2013 from the National Statistics and Census Institute, rural poverty rate stood at 40.73 per cent compared with 44.96 per cent in the previous year, while extreme rural poverty rate fell from 20 per cent in June 2012 to 16.93 per cent in 2013. The Government indicates that the groups whose basic needs, especially adequate housing services and water supplies, remain unmet are the indigenous peoples, followed by the Montubios and Afro-Ecuadorians. The Committee notes the implementation of the measures adopted under the “National Plan for Good Living 2013–17”, which includes programmes for marginal rural and urban housing; human development bonuses for single mothers, persons with disabilities and older adults in situations of poverty; and programmes aimed at improving basic education and school meals. The Committee invites the Government to continue to supply information on the objectives achieved through the implementation of policies aimed at the improvement of standards of living. The Committee also invites the Government to include up-to-date information on the results achieved in combating poverty, particularly with regard to indigenous, Montubio and Afro-Ecuadorian communities.

Articles 4 and 5. Agricultural land and independent producers. The Government indicates that one of the main objectives of the “National Plan for Good Living” is to stimulate the activity of small and medium-sized (associative type productive units) that promote the development of the popular solidarity economy. The Committee invites the Government to submit information on the results achieved through the measures adopted to promote the development of independent producers with a view to enabling them to improve their living standards by their own efforts.

Article 12. Remuneration of workers. The Government indicates that the labour legislation in force does not set a maximum limit on the amount of advances on wages. The Committee has noted the draft Basic Code on Labour Relations presented by the Minister for Labour Relations to the National Assembly for discussion in May 2014. The Committee observes that provisions have been incorporated in the draft which set limits on the amounts of advances on wages and regulate the form in which they are repaid. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on the adoption of new legislation with a view to ensuring compliance with all the provisions of Article 12 of the Convention.