Six days before the end of the first month of the year, the Government is not sure whether it will be able to cover all salaries in the public sector. This was admitted this Thursday, January 25 morning, by the deputy minister in the government, Esteban Torres, in a radio interview.

Torres assured that this delicate fiscal situation is happening in the midst of an 8000 million dollar deficit and an internal armed conflict. “There is a terrible deficit, created not only by the previous government, but also by past governments, which requires approximately $8,000 million to come out of this year alone… At this point, we are still not sure if 100% will be able to be paid public salaries for January, the fiscal treasury is really affected,” admitted Torres.

Ecuador’s fiscal fund has dropped to less than $95 million, and Issfa retirees are already protesting non-payment of pensions

The situation described by the deputy minister is not recent. In December 2023, the regime also had problems with the abolition of 100% of public salaries. As of Dec. 1, Ecuador’s fiscal cash remained at an all-time low, standing at $94.9 million, according to a report from the central bank’s Financial Monetary Bulletin.

This government received the fiscal treasury in the amount of 179.7 million dollars. And by November 24, it amounted to slightly more than 300 million dollars. However, public sector wages are approximately $700 million each month.