Following a request from the Government of Ecuador, an ILO technical mission to Quito took place from 5 to 8 October 2026 to gather technical and institutional inputs for the review of occupational structures, sectoral minimum wages, and classifications of economic activity.
The review is being conducted in the context of a labour market that has evolved significantly over time, with changing occupations and skills, considerable differences across sectors and enterprises, and high levels of informality. Against this background, a key challenge is to assess how well the existing sectoral and occupational structures in Ecuador reflect current labour market realities, while improving the alignment between regulatory classifications and statistical information. Strengthening the evidence base will also be important to support future discussions on the coverage, implementation, and evolution of sectoral minimum wages.
Ecuador combines a national Unified Basic Wage (SBU) with minimum wage rates set by 21 sectoral commissions, including piece-rate systems in some sectors, while the Ecuadorian Constitution recognizes the principle of a dignified wage (salario digno) that covers at least the basic needs of workers and their families. The review will also examine how sectoral minimum wages relate to the national Unified Basic Wage (SBU) and to the constitutional principle of a dignified wage.
During the mission, the ILO held meetings with the Ministry of Labour and Human Development, the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC), the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS), the Central Bank of Ecuador, representatives of employers' and workers' organizations, members of selected sectoral commissions, and the Inter-American Development Bank.
The exchanges during this mission helped identify the main statistical and administrative sources that can support the next phase of the work. These include the ENEMDU labour force survey and complementary administrative and economic data held by the Ministry, INEC, IESS and the Central Bank. Further work will be required to assess the quality, accessibility and possible use of these sources.
Over the next six months, ILO technical teams will work closely with the Ecuadorian Ministry to analyze the current architecture of the system, examine employment and occupational structures across sectors, assess wage patterns and available information on coverage and compliance, and develop technical options for updating and strengthening the system. The results will provide inputs for subsequent discussions with employers' and workers' representatives.
This technical assistance is supported by the ILO's Living Wage Programme and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen evidence-based wage-setting mechanisms, promote decent work, and ensure that wage policies contribute to fair and inclusive labour market outcomes in Ecuador.
