Workers and employers have still not defined the amount of the single basic wage (JOP) that will be valid from January 1, 2024. On Tuesday, November 28, in the afternoon, a new session of the National Council for Work and Wages (CNTS) was held. with representatives of business associations, union leaders and sector minister Ivonne Núñez.

The meeting started at 15:00 and ended around 17:00. There they analyzed the inputs that supported the proposals, as well as technical reports with official economic indicators.

At the end of the meeting, Marcela Arellano, president of the Ecuadorian Confederation of Free Trade Union Organizations (Ceosl), confirmed that the union’s approach is aimed at making the salary cover the costs of the basic basket.

“We are making every effort, all proposals and arguments. It is necessary to put the country first. I think this is the will of both employers and workers and the minister,” said Arellano.

On the business side, Tania Pazmiño, of the National Federation of Ecuadorian Chambers of Commerce, commented that “fixing wages is a technical issue, but not a political one.”

“We have to look at the reality of the country to stick to the technical part,” Pazmiño said, referring to figures presented Monday by President Daniel Noboa and Economy Minister Juan Carlos Vega that reveal Ecuador’s delicate economic situation.

Currently, the base wage is $450, unions are asking for a $100 increase and employers are asking for a $4.12 increase.

Although the proposals are opposed, spokespeople for both parties said they hoped to reach a consensus on the value of the base salary.

The Work and Wages Council will meet again in the coming days, this week. If a consensus is not reached between employers and workers, it will be in the hands of the Minister of Labor to determine the value of the salary for 2024.

In order for this meeting to take place, Minister Núñez must modify the ministerial agreement that establishes that the basic salary must be defined by November 30 of each year; In addition, it will be determined that the sessions of the Council are permanent, the representative of the workers pointed out. Arellano announced that the new Council meeting will be on Friday, December 1st.