The National Union of Educators (UNE) invited civil organizations to join marches in several provinces, on Tuesday, September 26, to reject the Organic Decree on the Emergency Economic Law for the Balance, Organization and Transparency of Public Finances, which President Guillermo Lasso submitted to the Constitutional Court (CC) on September 5.

The announcement was made by Isabel Vargas, head of UNE, at a press conference held on Saturday morning. The leader expressed that the content of the decree is law “intends to cut more than $1,000 for the education sector,” which would deepen the crisis in public education, affecting 3.5 million students and teachers.

Pensioners presented ‘amicus curiae’ against the decree of the law on public finances

“There is no security, there is no plan to eradicate all types of violence in the school environment. There is no real blueprint for safe schools. There is no school reintegration plan, which is why more than 25,000 students have not returned to school. This crisis will deepen. In the workplace, the revaluation of teachers will remain the same, it will not be applied, there will be no income for the teaching profession”, said Vargas and indicated that the regulatory project will also affect the health sector and the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute. (IESS).

This was reported by the spokesperson of the teachers’ union on Tuesdayand will be mobilized in the provinces of Guayas, Azuay and Pichincha along with labor unions, student groups, among others.

In Quito, at 10:00 a.m., they will go to the vicinity of the Constitutional Court and demand that the nine constitutional judges not to give way to the project promoted by Guillermo Lasso. At that time, the CC should hold a public hearing electronically to analyze the legislative decree.

State debt to IESS of $10.151 million puts pension payments at risk and weakens fund, authorities warn

Among the measures provided for in the standard is a change in the formula for calculating the increase budget allocations for the education and health sectors, based on the budget collected from the previous year. The state will contribute 33.33% to the IESS tripartite solidarity fund for the treatment of catastrophic diseases.

The collection of interest and/or fines arising from untimely payment of goods, procured services, as well as periodic contributions, contributions, fees and/or registration is prohibited, provided that this occurs between public entities that are part of the General State Budget. ; Universities and polytechnics are exempt from this. Eliminate the interest on the national debt with IESS for 40% of the contribution for retiree pensions.

Pensioners from IESS held a protest in Guayaquil to eliminate interest on the debt the state holds with social security

Furthermore, it is suggested 100% forgiveness of interest, fines and all other types of additional fees generated due to late payment goods and services between state entitiesdue to the temporary shortage of the fiscal treasury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, transfers were made to cover the associated total capital obligations in favor of public sector entities, until December 31, 2023.

For UNE, the decree law represents “a threat to health, public education and IESS.” The teaching profession believes that the proposals are “not urgent” and “violate the constitutional norm”, because they aim to reduce the budgetary resources for health and education.

In the past days, they also expressed their rejection of the project, on September 21 several IESS association of pensioners, who consider it your rights have been violated in the content of the legal entity. They presented a amicus curiae against the decree law.